Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by Romero
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Cogoli is a city of fours. Four hills rise up above the crowded streets, four bridges cross the River Vigent from which the nation takes its name, and four districts divide the city.

The four hills of Cogoli are the great figures of nature around which the city flows, and atop each of them is a building that represents the culmination of one of the cities most important founding ideas. The dream of Cogoli was first created at the foot of the Santo Hill, and it is upon the peak of that hill that the High Cathedral, the beating heart of the Holy Empire, rises above the city on the Western Bank of the River Vigent. Across the river, the Difesa Hill rises from the Eastern Bank, with the Castello dell’ Angelo on it’s crest. The two imposing buildings, representing the two columns of Vigentino, stand like silent sentinels flanking the river as it flows through the city. The third hill of the city, the Governo Hill, stands on the Western Bank, several miles downhill from the Santo Hill but just as much the heart of the Empire as it is upon the Governo Hill that the Chamber of the Senato is built. The Arti Hill, the fourth hill of the city, is the last one to have been consumed by the ever growing mass of the city, and it crowned by the Grand Theatre, the cultural jewel in the Empire’s crown.

The River Vigent is the lifeblood of Cogoli, more than two hundred metres wide at it’s widest point and just under one hundred at it’s narrowest as it flows through, and the source of much of the commerce and goods that the city must devour in order to survive. The oldest bridge that crosses the waters is almost as old as the city itself, while the newest has been built as recently as the last couple of decades. Almost two millennium old. although it has been renovated and repaired through the centuries, the Ponte Impero links the Eastern and Western Banks in the shadow of Santo and Difesa Hill. Although it’s age and structure prevents its use as a heavy goods crossing, it is still a central image of the city, often used in processions and ceremonies as a means of linking the two oldest districts of the city.

The Pento Valle is some two centuries years old, and it crosses the River Vigent less than a mile from where the Grand Theatre stands. It has fallen out of favour as a means of transporting goods over the river due to the construction of the two newer bridges, but it is still steadily used by those wanting to avoid the heavily congested main streets. The Pento Ferroviaria allows the railways to expand between the two banks, and was only built sixty years in the past, just before Pope Carlo Bocci came into power. It is almost constantly in use, but despite this, the iron structure carefully maintained and showing no sign of wear or warping. The newest bridge across the River Vigent is by far the largest and most impressive. The Pento Industria is a combined bascule and suspension bridge that is barely twenty years old, it’s construction ordered as the needs of the city grew. An imposing and iconic sight within the city, the bridge is the site of much of the commerce crossing the river, due to it’s location close to both the docks of the city on the Eastern Bank, and the rapidly expanding factories and industry on the Western Bank.

The four districts that divide Cogoli all possess their own unique culture and feel, despite all existing within the walls of the same city. The two oldest districts face each other across the River Vigent, founded together to form one city. The Bright District, formed around Santo Hill, serves as the location for the majority of the religious buildings of the city, including the High Cathedral, and two of the other five cathedrals that exist within the city walls, Cathedral Di Saint Sorio and Cathedral Di Saint Larcius. It also houses the residence of the Pope, and the other Cardinals of the city, as well as countless other places of worship in the older regions of the city, with stunningly beautiful marble architecture commonplace. On the other side of the river, focussed around the Castello dell’ Angelo and the Difesa Hill that it stands upon, the Old District takes up all of the Eastern Bank of the city. Once making up the main bulk of the city, due to the beliefs that only the chosen of the angel should set foot in the Bright District, as the centuries have passed the strict rules have relaxed, but the Old District is still a sprawling spider web of narrow and winding alleys and wide, busy streets.

The Grey District earns its name from the thick smoke that pours from it’s many factories, whether it is day or night. As well as being the industrial heart of the city, it is also the government one, with the District containing Governo Hill, and the Chamber of the Senato on its heights. It is from this District that both the Pento Ferroviaria and the Pento Industria spans the River Vigent, but it is also home to the region known as The Shades, where only the most foolhardy would choose to visit in the hours of darkness, lest they meet an unfortunate end. The final, and the newest, district of Cogoli is the Gold District. Housing many of the upper-class members of Cogoli, and Vigentino, society, the district is suitably grand. As well as the Grand Theatre, the Gold District also serves as the host of countless other theatres, galleries and museums, and there is a popular saying that “Anything that can be considered art, can be found in the Gold District”. Wide squares, luscious gardens and impressive villas are all common features in this district of the city.


'An Evening in the Gold District', painted by Vieri Bascio, 1903
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Hidden 6 yrs ago 6 yrs ago Post by Ratattack
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1st Infantry, 1st platoon in a picture

Now at the border of Melgaria stood a army, a army corp. Army corp hungryman, thirty thousand troops stood by the border and on the other side of the Melgarian border? Probably pathetic looking Melgarian soldiers or border guardsmen, the town of Gradius was a border town on the side of Cadia and thats where the boys stood there. Why was the army dispatched there? I was unclear to the public, maybe it was because they were unaware of King Roy Carl's epic plan. They also aren't mobilized but are soldiers who are now stationed on the town of Gradius, so people shoulden't freak out.

Graham now back in full health after Vigentinos bloody torture and is sent to Itherae because Itherae is known to be the friendlist nation in the known world as of now. So Graham was sent out with orders, orders to fufill. Should Itherae capture him, they might meet the same fate on a cross not to far from their captial too. However, Graham was smart and not a bad person so things like this shoulden't happen to him but in the known world that's ever changing things just seem to happen by luck.

A cross was constructed on the Cadia side of the border, a mock doll of the pope was crucified to it.

"A sign of what's to come" the sign nearby it read, after the sign was erected soldiers on duty returned to playing cards.

(+2 for the automobile order!!)
Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by krismer22
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The Coastal Empire of Tara


Tarantine Serranthia War Memorial, December 1st, 1900.

Word began to spread of the impending colonism that was being planned within the Coastal Empire of Tara, some Tarans were open to the idea of travelling to the new lands and discovering people, place and resources. While other older Tarans remembered a brutal insurgency that took place in Tarantine, known as the Tarantine Insurgency (1897-1899). The insurgency was started by the natives of the Serranthia region when the Tarans first colonized in the early 1890s. It would be near the end of the 19th century when the insurgency would kick off, causing a brutal two year war between Colonial forces and tribal insurgents. After two years of fighting, the insurgents being slowly pushed to the Etelian Serranthia came to the table to negoitate a surrender. The leaders and various other members of the insurgency were found guilty of treason in the courts of Tara, and hanged. While most now serve long sentences in Taran jails aboard, in the Taran homeland.

While conflicts continue to erupt in the west with the Julia and Vigentino war and now Helrox and Tyria, the government of Tara is now looking to continue to support it self as a Great Power on the global stage and aswell promote peace and life through legislation and international action. As of yet what this means is unknown as the government now takes a look at the world and how Tara could play a positive role in it with the right plan and the right people behind it. Rumors of the the government investing into technology such as flight and automobiles is unconfirmed but the people of Tara, while isolated from the world are yet intrigued of the technologies that lay outside the country.

For now the people wait in relative peace, unaffected by the trival wars of resources or mobilized armys on their borders as of yet. The Taran military remains vigilant in their garrision, while ninety nine percent of the time nothing terrible happens it's the one percent that contains the terror that a man who trains in the army fears for. An invasion, uprising, coup, terror attack, while all is a possibility the world is yet to see the resilent and resolve of the Taran people in recent times. Perhaps, should the world fall into something terrible this would change, for the better.



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Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by SonOfALich
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The Empire of Toubres - Early June, 1905

Raimundo Preta was a heavy-set man. As a younger man, he had been handsome, and he had been more than happy to sate his huge appetite as women practically fell at his feet, but over the years his appetites had become less of the flesh, and he had become overweight. He still had his thick, dark hair, and bright eyes, but he has gained often-red cheeks, and dark circles under his eyes. As his buisness continued to grow, the care-free attitude of his youth had faded to be replaced by an iron will that allowed him to crush his rival without any sense of remorse. And now he stood at the head of Expedição Marinha Preta, a company that he had forged with his own hands, fed with his own blood and sweat, and a company that had just been handed the contract to construct a new shipyard by the Empress of Toubres herself.

He allowed himself a smile, carefully polished porcelain dentures shining in the early morning light. Work had already begun. The money that had been provided by the Empress had already flowed throguh the company, into the hands of the scores of labourers and architects that had descended upon the narrow stretch of the Toubres coast. For now, the designs were only just beginning to come together, but it was only a matter of a few hours before the ground was to be broken, hewn away to create the drydock they had been ordered to build. There was a polite cough behind Raimundo, and he turned slowly, glaring at the diminuitive man that had interupted his contemplation.

Without saying a word, the messenger held out a hand, offering the letter held within it to the large figure of Raimundo. With a frown, he snatched it from the imposter who dissapeared as quickly as he arrived, turning and striding away as Raimundo glanced down at the letter. He frowned again as he saw that it was marked with the Imperial Seal of the Empress. Pulling it open quickly, his eyes scanned the carefully scrawled words and a wide smile crept across his face. With almost child-like excitement, he whirled about and hurried towards the huddle of architects, his voice booming through the crisp morning air.

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Hidden 6 yrs ago 6 yrs ago Post by Theodorable
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The World Undone

(1905--)





Turn 5
June, 1905


June 1st
In the Toubrés Empire, a propaganda campaign is started in both the mainland the colonial department. The propaganda campaign will be given funding of $750,000 and will focus on demonizing the rebels in Toubrian Serranthia to the general public. The campaign was designed to portray the rebels as heinous villains, theatrically highlighting their acts of murder and kidnapping of innocent citizens in Serranthia, and portraying the rebels as a “disease that is rotting the heart of fair Serranthia."

By placing posters across the major towns and cities, as well as publishing stories in the various national papers, the campaign will strive to condemn the rebels as base and inhuman, as well as leaving a clear warning for other potentially revolutionary groups.
- [-$750,000 for the Toubrés Empire. Secondary effects unresolved.]


Toubrian Propaganda Poster entitled "These Men March Against Us", depicting Tehmig rebels, 1905

The Kingdom of Etelia issued a diplomatic protest, with foreign ambassador Matazzo Etalo issuing a communique that read: "It is deplorable that the Toubrés' morale compass points in which ever direction the Empress requires. She has requested a conference and then turned and condemned these rebels in the same breath. The Etelian colonial government of Suraya (Etelian Serranthia) has announced that any who wish it so many seek refuge and shelter there. Bless the World, it is Known."

The Crisis in Toubrian Serranthia becomes a poignant political issue in the upcoming Toubrian elections. Although the Partido Popular Monárquico (Monarchist Party) had won an overwhelming majority in the 1899 election, allowing the Empress' agenda to be carried out, it was uncertain whether or not they would remain the same steadfast hold on the nation in the upcoming elections.


Toubrian Legislative Election Results, June 1899, Partido Popular Monárquico victories are in Red


Opponents to the Partido Popular Monárquico were the Partido Liberal, who espoused republican beliefs and wished to see the powers of the Empress' to be curtailed. Their strongholds were in the North. The Partido Nacional (National Party) were often short sighted friends of the monarchists, who wished to see Toubrés empire expanded, her fleets strong and her population free of immigrants. They often carried the coastal provinces. The Partido Socialiste carried the province of Salastor in 1899 with 4 of the 7 seats but seemed incapable of garnering additional support elsewhere.

Julo-Vigentan War, Western Front
The Second Imperial Army began it's offensive, codenamed Operation Strangehold, advancing up the Western Plains and being impeded only by the influx of Julian refugees--many of them who were not fleeing the city of their own accord, but rather having been told to leave the city. Many considered Viscount Zach Nato to have abandoned them, telling them to leave instead of to stay and fight.

Julo-Vigentan War, Eastern Front
On June 1st, both Vigentino and Julia started the morning with an offensive. A preliminary artillery barrage by Julian Thamber field guns and Vigentan Puccio 77mm's wreaked havoc and death for nearly four and a half hours. With superior range, the Thamber was put to rest by the superior number of Puccio's, whose counter battery fire was not necessarily superior but simply greater in number. With only 6,000 men defending the front against nearly 40,000 Vigentan's, the Julian rank and file were aghast at having been given the order to charge.

At 7:50 that morning, a Julian assault by 2,800 men was summarily repulsed--with the majority left dead and dying. Twenty-two minutes later, 8,800 men of the 10th and 14th Infantry Division left the sloping hills and curved foxholes to begin their assault on a weakened Julian position. By 11:00 the Julian left had been broken through and the Julians were following back toward Julia.


The Julian Offensive was weak, ineffective and ended after two hours, June, 1905


June 2nd
In the Kingdom of Cadia, the national government orders: "Build two factories for Harvult." The facilitation of this order however requires that Harvult Arms, an entirely private company--be nationalized--since it is outside of the realm of possibility for the government to force the expansion of a privatized company. The Cadian government empties it's coffers by doling out the $10,000,000 required to nationalize the company. Seven of the nine principal engineers of Harvult emigrate to Itherae, refusing to work with the Cadian government.

Lots for the two factories are located and construction begins immediately with a dispersal of half a million dollars for the two.

Julo-Vigentan War, Eastern Front
The Julian Homeguard continues it's retreat from Zilorno, while Vigentan soldiers consolidate their line and eradicate stragglers expeditiously.

Julo-Vigentan War, Western Front
The Vigentan Second Imperial Army continues on until discovering a single line of soldiers, entrenching themselves and 20 Thamber's ten miles outside of the city walls. An engagement--a back and forth artillery barrage begins that will last three days before the last Thamber is zeroed in on and destroyed. Of the 3,000 soldiers from the 4th Homeguard, 461 will make it back to the city of Julia.

Tyro-Helroxi War
On June 2nd, the 2nd Field Army, 3rd Field Army and 4th Field Army opened a massive artillery barrage of 250 Melhorn S55 field guns. After a preliminary 4 hour barrage where nearly 30,000 shells were fired, the combined might of these three field armies began to advance into Helrox territory. Tyrian intelligence made note of the following: "No counter artillery fire was encountered." Given the lack of disruptive enemy fire, Tyrian mass assaults crashed into dazed Helroxi soldiers of Army Group Reselven.


Tyrian soldiers observing Helroxi positions during an artillery barrage, June 1905

Near the Escyan border, the Helroxi 90th Cavalry charged a fixed Tyrian position with great success. Led by Major General Kylov, a veteran of the (now) First Tyro-Helroxi War, he managed to catch them unaware near dusk and succeeded in capturing 4 Melhorn S55 field guns and taking 1,800 Tyrians of the 5. Infanterie Division prisoner before falling back. By the end of June 2nd, the Tyrians had advanced nearly eight miles into Helroxi territory across a wide swathe.
Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by Lauder
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High Kingdom of Itherae


The Volunteer Guard Division


At the start of the Second Helroxi-Tyrian War, Itheraen emissaries in Tyria would be given the order to offer the aid of an Itheraen volunteer division in order to offer a quicker means of destruction to the Helroxi forces. The Queen Athena's official statement on the matter would be to "... aid in eradication a threat that has loomed over Eurania for long enough." However, Itherae would not officially join the war as to not attract to much attention in the regional political sphere.

The Volunteer Guard Division would be comprised of 2,000 men from 3rd Guards Division, led by Commander Laskaris would, with an outfit of 10 67mm Field Guns, would join with the Tyrian 2nd Field Army. These men would go to go from boat to the closest Tyiran port to the front of the war, from there, the unit would move using the Tyrian Railway and reach the Tyrian 2nd Field Army. Commander Laskaris would work closely with Tyrian command in driving back the Helroxi forces in the most efficient manner possible rather than a mass assault that might cost the division a large portion of their available manpower. The Itheraen forces would be leave for the front on June 15th and would be expected to reach their destination on the front by the end of the month.

The Itheraen Commander Laskaris would regard the decision of the being sent with a volunteer force as, "... a chance to test Itheraen military capabilities and see if we need to rethink our military strategy. Furthermore, I would like to see how well our weapons operate on the field." Commander Laskaris was eager to see what his nation's military had to offer due to the long time of peace that the nation had experienced since the end of the Second Ithero-Cadian, which had lasted from 1858 to 1859. However, he was also eager in to try some new tactics which had theorized would would help in securing success, though only battlefield experience would show how effective they would prove for the military.


Commander Laskaris Circa 1900


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The World Undone

(1905--)





Turn 5
June, 1905


June 3rd
In the Republic of Ustrela, the Army Bureau sends out a design contract for the following specifications:
1. Firing rate of 10-15 rounds per minute.
2. Weight of less than ten pounds.
3. Effective firing range of 1,000 yards
4. 5-round stripper clip capacity.
5. Development time of 18 months.

The Ustrela State Armory, the only prominent weapons manufacturer in the region, accepts the contract and is expected to submit a new design by the end of 1906.

Julo-Vigentan War, Eastern Front
June 3rd is considered the conclusive end of the Battle of Zilorno. Casualties are reportedly 9,816 Vigentans killed, 7,512 Julians, with 44 Puccio 77mm Field Guns and 91 Thamber field guns lost, destroyed or abandoned. Zilorno is the final collapse of an organized defense in the East, and then the First Imperial Army begins to encircle the capitol of Julia, with soldiers linking up with cavalry scouts from the Second Imperial Army in the West.

Julo-Vigentan War, Western Front
While the gun duel continues into it's second day, cavalry elements of the Second Imperial Army swoop in and attempt a flanking maneuver of the settled gun positions but find themselves navigating a mass of refugees and a pockmarked battlefield. 400 cavalrymen are cut down in the ensuing counter fire of Thamber field gun and Mataxis' rifle fire after having been effectively stranded in the no man's land between the two armies.

Second Tyro-Helroxi War
The Second, Third and Fourth Field Armies continue to advance against the partially mobilized Helroxi positions, but intelligence returns to Tyrian High Command that Army Group Reselven are not conscripts but guards divisions. Still caught flat footed, the Tyrians continue their advance under cover of artillery barrage followed by a concentrated charge of infantry.

In the Merkurian Sea, Tyrian naval observers watched as the entire Helroxi fleet set sail from harbor and streamed as a battle group toward Landorf. By day's end, Tyrian Naval Command is aware that the entire fleet has left port and mobilized in the Merkurian Sea.


The Helroxi Fleet departing port, 1905
Hidden 6 yrs ago 6 yrs ago Post by Ascendant
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Building the Future

The complete lack of railroads had not gone unnoticed by the King of Illesia. Whilst other, often far greater, powers had significantly more of these constructions, Illesia had none. This was undoubtedly due almost entirely to Illesia's heavy reliance upon agriculture as her main export, but if Illesia were to become great, the Illesians had to strive forward into the future. A plan for roads had already been laid down by the efforts of the Committee on Infrastructure, and so, a further order was sent down by the King. The Committee was now to seek out the best choice they could find to perform the role of CEO an Illesian state-owned rail company within three months that would be known as the "Illesian Rail Monopoly." Empowered with an absolute monopoly on the laying of railroads and running of locomotives for those rail lines, the Illesian Rail Monopoly, or IRM, were instructed to develop the rail network of Illesia as follows:



Railroads are crossed by black lines, roads are not.

This process was to be much the same as that for the road network, with the following phases:

1. Red Phase, this rail line is intended to link Ironhold through Regoth and Marneille.
2. Light Green Phase, this rail line will link Juliad to Ironhold and Levandre to Marneille primarily.
3. Dark Green Phase, this rail line will link Svenhold into the network along with San Marco's and Marshos.
4. Yellow Phase, this rail line links Cuidad de Angeles as well as L'Eria and on to Turinne into the network.
5. Brown Phase, this rail line links Vierzon and forms a connecting link between Turinne and Marshos.
6. Cyan Phase, this rail line primarily functions to form a shorter link between Cuidad de Angeles and L'Eria, as well as to further strengthen the Western Rail Network.
7. Pink Phase, these lines primarily strengthen the ability of the Western Rail Network to function even under duress, and shortens some paths.

The IRM was to focus primarily upon transport of industrial materials, but will also have capabilities to transport passengers. Its secondary goal is to be able to provide rail-based logistics for the Illesian Army. King Avandre believes that a solid rail network will enormously strengthen the Illesian economy as factories can more easily receive and distribute goods without relying on the sea lanes, with the bonus of the developed road network hopefully assisting as well.

Monetarily, the IRM is to receive an initial funding of $5,000,000 from which it will begin purchasing locomotives and building rail as soon as humanly possible. The CEO of the IRM will be allowed to make requests for additional funds by contacting the Committee on Infrastructure.

A Marine Corps Of Our Own

The combined minds of the Marshall and Naval Triumvirates along with King Avandre have come to the decision that a dedicated force of highly trained and talented soldiers capable of numerous tactics included the assault of foreign shores is going to be sorely needed in the near future of Illesia. Considering this, King Avandre has ordered that the Illesian Marine Corps be established beneath the Illesian Navy. The Illesian Marines are to be highly skilled, well-paid soldiers of the utmost physical quality and ferocity, capable of executing with an incredible degree of efficiency: amphibious assaults, boarding actions, mountain climbing, raid tactics, maneuvering in concert with Army and Navy forces, infiltrations, reconnaissance, night operations, and any other tactic that the Commandant of the Illesian Marines or his subordinates can devise.

The Marshall Triumvirate is to choose the best men it feels suitable for the job to form the initial command structure of the Marines, with the Military planning to build a Marine force of undisclosed numbers. They will be trained primarily at a camp in Regoth, though their six-month minimum training will see Marine Recruits travelling all over Illesia to endure various environments.

Stirring New Business

Continuing to look towards the future, King Avandre VII has consulted with the Committee on National Finances as well as a number of highly regarded economist such as Ralph Laurvan, a university academic who has spent his life trying to understand the fluxuations of economies and their causes, as well as a number of business owners in Regoth. Together, they have all come to the conclusion that one of the primary hurdles to a business, especially when starting up, is the tax burden upon them. To address this issue, King Avandre VII signs The Nascent Commerce Tax Act of 1905. The objective of this act is simple; help ignite the furnace of the Illesian economy by incentivizing the growth of new businesses within in. It is believed that this Act will help motivate a number of entrepreneurs and investors to start businesses and take risks they otherwise would not have, with the potential for enormous growth and pay-off.

The Nascent Commerce Tax Act of 1905

In order to encourage the growth of new businesses in Illesia as well as the economic growth and innovation that the appearance of these businesses brings, King Avandre VII hereby declares that all new businesses that:

1. Are started in Illesia after the passing of this Act;
2. Are started and owned by an Illesian national or majority owned by Illesian nationals;
3. Are not attempting to manipulate this Act in a fraudulent manner to avoid paying their taxes such as closing a business and reopening it under a new name or any other financial trickery as determined by the Ministry of Taxation.

Businesses that meet these three requirements will be considered new by the Ministry of Taxation and will be temporarily taxed only 10% of their revenue for two years after their founding instead of the usual 33.5%. To receive this tax break, when a new business sends in its tax forms, it will notify the Ministry of Taxation on the forms that it is a new business. If the Ministry of Taxation chooses to audit the business and discovers that the individuals or other entities that started the business lied to make the business appear as if it were started after the passing of this Act when in truth the business that existed before the passing of this Act, even under a different name or ownership, the business will be fined an amount equivalent to the amount of tax the business should have paid during the time it was receiving the tax break.

Sowing the Seed of a Shipbuilding Empire

With the distinct need for war-ready shipbuilding capacity in the Illesian Kingdom, and already on a roll when it comes to planning and ordering the development of new infrastructure, King Avandre VII consulted further with the Naval Triumvirate and Committee on National Finances this month before ordering the construction of a 7,000 ton, 5,000 ton, and five 2,000 ton drydocks primarily distributed between Regoth and Marneille. The Committee on Infrastructure is to oversee their construction, receiving bids from various companies and choosing the lowest bids within three months. The necessary funds, determined from the summation of the low bids of these companies, will be transferred from the Treasury to the companies.

These drydocks will then be given over to the winners of the following contest, which is designed to foster an Illesian-based shipbuilding and design company, one that will design, test, and build the latest Illesian fleets,

Illesian War-Ready Cruiser Design Contest

To all Illesians interested and willing to form a private shipbuilding company, King Avandre VII challenges you to:

Design and have built, even by a foreign drydock, a War-Ready Cruiser with the following specifications:

1. Mounts at least eight 6-inch guns, eight 12-pounder guns, and at least two torpedo tubes but preferably four,
2. Has a top speed of at least 20 knots, preferably higher,
3. Has deck armour ranging from 1.5 to 3 inches.
4. Has gun shields with at least 3 inches of armor.
5. Has a conning tower with at least 5 inches of armor.
6. Holds enough ammunition for the main and secondary guns to fire continuously for at least forty minutes.
7. Does not displace more than 7,000 tons.

All participants will have one year and three months from the announcement of this contest to design and build the cruiser before presenting it before King Avandre VII, and whatever staff he chooses to judge the contest, off the shores of Regoth. The winning company chosen will receive ownership of a 7,000 ton drydock, a 5,000 ton drydock, and five 2,000 ton drydocks, already built or under construction by the Illesian Kingdom, as well as a contract to produce a to-be-discussed number of their designed cruiser. Beyond this, further requests will be made for more designs of various classes.
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Extracts taken from the personal journal of Capitano Salvi Callocci, officer of the 14th Infantry Regiment, of the 5th Imperial Guard Infantry Division.

31st of May, 1905

It has been weeks since this god-awful battle began. I’ve heard that it’s been dubbed the ‘Battle of Zilorno’, although we’re miles from the town itself. I can still remember the slaughter of when we first encountered the Julian’s. We hadn’t been expecting heavy resistance, all our reports had been telling us that the Viscount of Julia had ordered all his men to remain within his precious city, so we were surprised when our forward scouts reported enemy movements ahead.

At the time it had only been the 5th, supported by the 4th Artillery, but our spirits were high, and Generale Crimi ordered us to charge them. We knew that the Julian’s were a step or two ahead of us with their guns, but by the angel did we not know how far ahead they were.

It was the 13th Regiment that was sent in first, with us and the 15th staying back in support. That meant we were just watching as the men of the 13th were cut down. Wasn’t long before Crimi ordered the fall back, but not before over a thousand Imperial Guardsman were dead, the regiment all but crippled.

After that, we dug in, rolling out the guns, just as they did the same. That was three weeks ago, and still the infernal bombardment continues. The 10th Infantry and the 3rd Artillery have moved to support us, even old Generale Altieri has arrived, taking full command over the Battle, but neither side has wanted to make the opening move. Instead these damned guns just keep firing, day and night. By my count, I’ve lost eighty four men from my company alone, with seventeen more needing attention from the Medical Squadron. I’ve needed stitches myself on a gash in my leg, caused by a shrapnel shell that caught us unawares late at night some two weeks ago, and it still aches.

The air is hot and thick, and the smoke from the artillery hangs like an eerie mist over the churned up mud, but there are rumours among the men that a major offensive is planned in June, to end this battle at whatever cost. Even as I write this, the night air seems to him in anticipation.





1st of June, 1905

In the early hours of the morning, the 12th and the 14th Infantry arrived, and by the angel were they a welcome sight. My brother, Maffeo, is an officer in the 12th, and I almost wept with joy when we found each other in the officers mess tent. But the celebrations did not last long. The Julian’s had obviously been preparing to make a move of their own, and the guns started to roar even louder than before.

It was well-known amongst the officers that the Julian artillery was superior to our own, their guns, called ‘Thambers’, had better range over our Puccio’s, but we had the greater number, and eventually that won out. After nearly five hours of near constant fires, at times the individual shots merging into a never-ending roar, the guns finally fell silent, the Artillery crews cheering and singing as the last of the Julian guns was put to rest.

Half an hour had passed before the trumpets sounded to bring us back to the front lines, warning of a full scale assault. We all ran to our posts, and as I looked out over the no-mans-land, I almost couldn’t believe my eyes.

There were just short of 40,000 soldiers of the Imperial Guard holding the line, but there couldn’t have been more than 3,000 Julians towards our lines. I almost felt sorry for them. I knew that they were men, just like us, with families, and memories, and hopes, but they had been ordered to death, and I had no choice but to give the order for my company to fire, just as the rest of the First Army did, and watch the Julian’s get slaughtered like cattle. Only fifteen minutes later, we were given the order to cease fire, and then a regiment from the 10th Division to the left of my possession, and two regiments from the 14th Division to the right of my position, engaged in a counter-offensive.

The straggling Julian’s that still held the line found bravely, but we could see that their spirit was broken, and it was only a matter of hours before their left flank was broken by the 14th, quickly followed by the rest of their line.

The 5th Division has been ordered to advance and consolidate the position, so I write this from a foxhole, the hot evening sun beating down on us in a brief moment of respite, before we continue to hunt down the Julian stragglers. I hope for their sake that this war is over soon.
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The World Undone

(1905--)





Turn 5
June, 1905


June 4th

In the Holy Empire of Vigentino, an ordinance to form the Imperial Academy of Field Artillery is established. The Academy will be based in ‘Fort Invincibile’, an army fort near Collenzaro, in the western region of Vigentino. The Academy will provide both Phase 1 and Phase 2 training for the recruits to the Imperial Artillery.

Phase 1 will focus on the tactics, techniques and procedures for the employment of field artillery on the field of war, as well as the operation and maintenance of the field artillery guns themselves. It will take fresh recruits, and develop them through a course lasting three months and overseen by experienced artillery officers and gunners.

Phase 2 will divide the recruits of Phase 1 into officers and gunners. Officers will be those recruits that have shown themselves to be tactically and technically gifted, and Phase 2 will focus on developing and refining these leadership abilities, further studying tactics and the most effective methods of utilizing field artillery. The course will last six months, and be overseen by experienced artillery officers

Gunners will undergo courses designed to further develop and refine war fighting doctrine, their understanding of the workings and maintenance for the field artillery guns, with the recruits being divided into their gunner teams of 4 men, to encourage the bonding and understanding of the group, that will be responsible for a field guns operation when employed on the battlefield. The course will last six months, and be overseen by experience artillery gunners. Despite the separate courses, the Gunners of Officers should still regularly socialize, eating and sleeping in the same places, so as to avoid any sense of hostility between the two groups. Once both Phases are complete, then the newly trained Gunners and Officers will await orders, often being formed into new Artillery Battalions to utilize the sense of camaraderie shared between the recruits that passed through training at the same time. Considering the already existing building, $250,000 will be given to initially prepare the fort for its use as an academy, then a further $200,000 a year to run the academy.

Second Tyro-Helroxi War
On June 4th, the first naval action of the war occurred at the Naval Battle of Landorf. The Helroxi lost any element of surprise with the entirety of their fleet perusing the Merkurian Sea. The Tyrians prepped a half dozen 12" gun batteries at Landorf as well as mobilized the fleet to ail. The Helroxi fell right into the trap, as their tactical objective was "to bombard the navy Dock Yards of Landorf where the Tyrian Fleet and current Mothballed Battleship is believed to be as well as to cause panic in the Tyrian Capital and damage the tyrian docks."

While Helroxi Naval High Command was aghast at the idea of sending out battleships for "coastal raids" while the enemy fleet was present--orders could not be ignored. At 0912 on June 4th, the Helroxi 1st Fleet under Commodore Arman Oxferd was spotted fourteen nautical miles northwest of Landorf. The Helroxi 1st Fleet was comprised of the 1891 battleship HIN Dimitri, 4 armored cruisers, 7 light cruisers and 7 destroyers.

The Imperial Fleet was comprised of the battleship SMS Wolfram, 4 armored cruisers, 4 light cruisers, and five destroyers. Two of the destroyers--still working up--were left at port. The Imperial Fleet headed due east and at 0955 turned due West and headed for the Helroxi before turning south to cross the Helroxi "T" as the Helroxi moved for Landorf. The first shot was from Battery #4 at Landorf, offering a near miss on the Helroxi cruiser HIN Lorgen.


Tyrian coastal battery, Landorf, 1905

At 0958 the first ship to ship combat began, with the HIN Dimitri opening a salvo with her 4 10" guns and being met with a resounding salvo from the SMS Wolfram's 4 12" guns, though one misfired and was not able to have the breech opened due to pressure for the remainder of the battle. This is widely considered the first time in history battleships have engaged one another in combat.

At 1011 hours, the Tyrian destroyer SMS Lancer was struck by a concentrated barrage by a Helroxi armored cruiser and at 1014 the captain ordered all hands abandoned ship. The battle was an incomprehensible bloodletting. The Tyrians, supported by six 12" field batteries had effectively come to the battle with the firepower of three battleships--sinking 4 destroyers, 2 light cruisers and the Helroxi armored cruiser HIN Peytrin.

The HIN Dimitri was so badly damaged that her boilers billowed an inky black smoke during the retreat. And the HIN Questr had to be abandoned in the Merkurian Strait after her aft magazine exploded. While neither battleship was damaged, both the Dimitri and Wolfram were so mauled as to be rendered useless without repair for the next months. Engineers on the Wolfram refused to board her after inspecting her magazines and believing them to be volatile. Only on June 8th would they come back aboard to begin repairs.

June 5th
In the Kingdom of Cadia, the Army allots a budget of $3,000,000 for the recruitment into the Cadian Army. Given that the Cadian national government was bankrupt, this meant printing money which--within the scope of June--increased inflation nearly a third of a percent for Cadians. "What are we supposed to do with this?" One Cadian officer asked, looking at the paper detailing the allotment of nearly twice Cadia's already existing budget.

"Recruit, obviously!" Another officer asked. The first officer wanted to say "How?" But was already thinking of buying a yacht off the Itheraen coast with some of the funds for "recruitment purposes."
June 6th
Appropriating nearly $420,000 in new funds, the Ustrelian Navy orders the production of six Tigre Class destroyers from the Mariano Marina Shipyard, requested to be begin after the construction of The Octavia. They will be named, in order of completion, Ernesto Hurtado, Primitivo Nores, Facundo Lain, Emilia Carballo, Felipa Cazalla, Marcos Andrande. While the Ustrelian Navy was considered these designs relatively new, they were certainly beginning to show their age.

One of the Mariano Marina Shipyards, 1905
June 7th
The Holy Empire of Vigentino begins the construction of a dedicated motor racing circuit, the Gara circuit, within 10 miles of Cogoli, on an area of at least 330 acres.The track should be built as a 30m wide, 4.40km long banked oval. At it’s highest point the banking on the corner should be 8m high and at a bank of 30 degrees on the tracks two corners. In addition to the oval, a bisecting ‘Final Straight’ should be built, increasing the total track length to 5.20km with 2km of which being banked. There should be spectator space for 290,000 spectators around the track, and grand stands lining the ‘Final Straight’, all protected by concrete walls lining the track. There should also be a ‘paddock’ by the ‘Final Strait’ with room for 30 automobiles and their crew, with a road leading onto the track. The track itself should be built of asphalt concrete. $200,000 will be given for the construction of the track by the government, overseen by Giano Riccoboni who is an accomplished engineer and a keen fan of the newly emerging automobile industry, and given a deadline of a year for its completion.

Second Tyro-Helroxi War
The Grand Offensive continues, entering nearly it's first week and the Tyrians advancing nearly twenty miles in several days. In the North, Helroxi High Command ordered an Offensive. Men retreated in flocks. They took days to find their units after being blitzed by heavy artillery fire. The Tyrians gave little quarter, given their advantage. Only Major General Kylov's brief counter attack during the second day of the war gave any hope to Helroxi forces on the front. The following order came down from Flegleen:


The 90th Cavalry, a total of only 8,000 men was now given the task of "discovering the weakness" of nearly a quarter million troops spread across 1,100 miles of terrain. Due to this, Kylov's cavalry effectively became useless--with the regiment being torn apart and sent to scout individual sectors in groups of two and three. Given that in the span of 24 hours, Kylov's men had only just just started to poke and prod Tyrian lines (taking horrendous casualties in the process, often being overwhelmed by sustained rifle power), an offensive started on the same day with the 110th, 111th, 112th and 113th Guard divisions--totaling 80,000 troops.


Kylov's 90th Cavalry, circa 1905.


The Battle of Trevten began on June 5th, with 80,000 Helroxi Guards units engaging in a massive offensive at a single point of attack along the Tyrian axis of advance. It would not end on June 5th.


Helroxi June 5th Offensive
June 8th
A workforce of 10,000 men are dispatched from the Kingdom of Cadia to Cydernia to begin work on the Cado-Cydernian rail system. These men will be paid wages of nearly $100 a week. Without heavy equipment of any kind, these men will go about things the way they have been done for millennia.
June 9th
With the onset of war, the government of the Tyrian Empire approaches Julian Kaplan of Steiner Meustadt A.G on the viability of the development of a skyship capable of military use as a reconnaissance vessel. To suit these aims the skyship would require a respectable speed, range and service ceiling. If Julian believes it possible the Government will put in an offer for a working prototype.

Kaplan requests five months to design a functional prototype suitable for military operations.

Julo-Vigentan War, Eastern Front
The Tepeste Offensive begins in the far Eastern village of Tepeste. Largely considered the last meaningful offensive of the war, the 10,000 man strong Homeguard bombarded the city for three days--killing mostly Julian citizens en masse, then entered the city. General Yanik Rallobello rounded up the 250 Vigentan soldiers who survived (out of a garrison of 391) and had them lined up at the Tepeste Railway just outside of town. Each man was lined up, blindfolded and summarily shot.


Tepeste Massacre, June 1905
June 10th
In the Parakan Republic, a vote is called in the National Legislature called the Central Bank Act, to establish a central bank system in order to regulate other banks and fiscal policy the country, the central bank should start with a budget of $10,000,000 and be given $1,000,000 per year. It has the following objectives and missions. With a vote 199-99 the vote passes and the Parakan National Bank is started.
June 11th
Second Tyro-Helroxi War
The Itherae Volunteer Division arrives at the front. Eager to fight, Itheraen High Command failed to implement procedures in the state of an Order of Battle. In fact, when directly questioned where their rifles were, Commander Laskaris allegedly stammered that they were under the impression they had been shipped along with the unit. The Itheraen High Command apparently thought otherwise.
June 12th
The Kingdom of Zellonia submits an international contract for the following:

Rifle Contract 1905Z
- Bolt Action Rifle
- Sales Price Must be $78 or less per unit
- Requires 45,000 to be delivered by January 1st, 1906.

While bidding was serious, it was the Illesian firm Tournesol Armouries that was eventually awarded the contract--worth over $5,000,000 and signed directly by King James VII of Zellonia. This one contract was enough to turn Tournesol industries profitable for 1905.

Similarly, in Illesia--the eccentric inventor Yorgen Charron finalized his working Charrographer, the world's first wireless telegram.


Charron (seated, left) and two onlookers testing out the first Charrographer Y1 prototype, 1905
June 13th

Second Tyo-Helroxi War
The first major battle of the war begins just five miles southeast of the town of Tretzen. The June 5th Offensive has reached a fever pitch as four Guards divisions converge the Tyrian positions--stuttering, and then stopping the Tyrian offensive by sheer force of will. Tyrian soldiers report "running out of ammunition and having to kill Helroxi soldiers with their bare hands." The momentum would swing back and forth, with huge offensives of 5,000 and 9,000 men charging and counter charging. On June 11th, June 12th and June 13th the smoke from the Melhorn S55 batteries was so thick, the men could not see to continue loading the guns. At dawn on the 13th, 11th men of the 110th and 111th Guards division charged and overran sixteen Tyrian positions--all of them poorly defended due to the Tyrians being constantly on the offensive.



Only the presence of precious reserve units stopped a total rout of the Tyrian positions. The battle on the 13th was the most bloody thus far, with 19,000 Tyrian and Helroxi died and dying in the fields around Tretzen. And in the muggy light of the late summer afternoon, the fighting had grown closer to the city of Tretzen as Helroxi commanders moved to occupy much of the town, using it as bivouac and command post and receiving a fair share of Tyrian artillery fire to boot.
June 14th
The Itheraen colony of Néo Méros was minuscule in comparison to it's Taran and Toubrian counterparts. With less than 2,000 active settlers after two functional waves, the vast majority of the colony was a land grab, with nearly 1,900 of the colonists setting their stakes down within a stone's throw of the vibrant Mittel Sea (so named by Tyrian explorers in the 1100's). Unlike the Toubrian and Tarans, Néo Méros was selected because it was uninhabited, rather than despite it. While some contact was made in early June with Tehmigs, the Itheraens proved versatile and quick learners of Serranthian bartering. The Mahaja became a new fashionable custom among Itheraens--a pseudo scarf made of horse hair and sheep's wool that protected against the indiscriminate sun while the Tehmigs traded for liquor, tools and sometimes the occasional firearm.


Itheraen colonization--after months--is finalized, 1905


The Inaros Sea was thus named by committee of the colonial government there, thus named the Apoikiakó Spíti Itherae (Itheraen Colonial Committee), who would need either to be assigned a governor or a committee for purposes of administration. Conservatives estimates put the total native population of all of Néo Méros at about 8,600 Tehmig and coastal tribes--among them the Nukuni, Tessani and Mejatani--all of them dispersed, peaceful and mostly passive.
June 15th
Known World
In the High Kingdom of Itherae, General Stemos of the 11th Guard, is tasked with overseeing the recruitment and training of 500 men for a new special forces unit. This unit will be dubbed the 30th Dragoon Regiment and will be trained for; both mounted on horseback and dismounted combat, sabatoge of enemy communication, fighting whilst behind enemy lines, reconnaissance, and stealth. General Stemos will be given a deadline of 30 weeks to complete this task.

The same day in the Parakan Republic, the Naval Act of 1905 passes. In 12 months, the Parakan Republics demands the following:
-1x BB $890,000
-5x CA $2,330,000
-10x CL $1,270,000
-30x DS $3,810,000

Given the only viable possibility of a battleship being completed in twelve months is a pre-dreadnaught, a Tlahtl-class Pre-Dreadnaught of 8,900 tons is immediately ordered. And in the stead of utilizing national shipyards, the remaining 30 destroyers, 10 light cruisers and five armored cruisers are requisitioned through Steelcastle Shipbuilding in the Empire of Tara.
June 16th
The Supra Dobranie of the High Kingdom of Itherae issues the “Federal Road Expansion Act” to build paved highways connecting all major cities. Those who are unemployed will have the opportunity to join the workforce for the construction of these highways at a wage of $10 a week ($520/year). The project will have a budget of $3,000,000 in total and will be expected to be completed by the end of the year 1906.

Given it's budget, it can only afford to employ 5,796 workers total to begin work on the roadways.
June 17th
The Kingdom of Etelia facilitates the sale of three Zitori-class Destroyers (400 tons, 2 x 3" guns, 32 knots) for a total sum of $180,000 to the High Kingdom of Itherae and are delivered on June 17th. June 17th, 1905 is considered the birthday of the Itheraen Navy.
June 18th
With the Julo-Vigentan War now winding down, the government of the Holy Empire of Vigentino makes contact with Steiner Meustadt A.G, sending the engineer and keen business man, Cenni Callocci. Cenni expresses interest in initially some Escya I Skyships, but also to inquire after any further developments that the company has achieved. After seeing the products that the company can offer, Cenni is to place an order for two of the most advanced Skyships, to be sent to Cogoli as soon as possible.

On June 18th, Steiner Meustadt A.G. finalizes it's first international contract with the delivery of two Escya I Skyships to Cogoli, Vigentino.


Escya I Skyship, moored over Cogoli Lake on inspection duty from Vigentan engineers, June 1905

Interestingly enough, the Escya I's were powered by Forino 4hp motors propelling four two-bladed propellers on each side of the front carriage. Capable of 28 miles per hour and carrying six passengers in the carriage, these units were named ES-1 and ES-2.

Julo-Vigentan War
In the Eastern Front, the Battle of Zilorno had finished and the Second Imperial Army had started it's encirclement of Julia. Refugees had no longer been allotted out of the city. In the North of Methyrnia, Vigentan soldiers of the First Imperial Army and Second Imperial Army met up, linking the massive encirclement entirely. On June 19th, elements of the First Imperial Army would be at the gates of the City of Julia, their Puccio 77mm guns poised for bombardment. The walls of the city were high and well defended.

Second Tyro-Helroxi War
The Battle of Tretzen continues with wanton bloodshed failing to diminish or waver. A counter charge by 1,100 Tyrians of 6. Infanterie Division fall when Antony Kylov of the 90th Cavalry rallies several regiments of the 111th and 113th Guards divisions to form a firing line. 1,014 men of the Tyrian charge are dead or wounded by the end of the day. The Helroxi Offensive continues, driving three and a half miles into Tyrian lines.
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Helrox Empire
June 1905


War Intensifies

The Kaiser sat in his office drinking his scotch trying to decide what was to be done. Finally he decided he would allow his military officers to handle the future plans for the war, instead the Kaiser would take on the role to improve the war effort and diplomacy. In fact, the Military would only need to be approved by Casper Braun the current Chief of the Army.

To better improve the war effort, propaganda posters were made showing the Kaiser visiting troops and asking for recruitment in posters.




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A Helping Hand

Illesian Military High Command, The Presidium, Regoth

"So, the Helroxi want our assistance, do they?" laughed Michielle Hontas as he, along with the other members of the Marshall and Naval Triumvirates reviewed the recently received telegram from the Helrox Empire.

"Aye, seems so. The deal is sensible enough," noted Jacques L'Avon, one of the central players in the Naval Triumvirate, "I say we send some fairly capable people. Navy ones too, considering how the Helroxi got their asses handed to them on the seas against a navy less capable than their own."

King Avandre strolled into the chamber, adjusting his coat and removing his hat before being informed of the situation, at which point the young King took his seat between the two Triumvirates and ruminated for a few minutes. Finally, he told them, "Let's help the Helrox as best we can. But risking the lives of Illesian soldiers in this conflict between hundreds of thousands of men seems nonsensical. Not to mention the fact the Tyrians might try to intercept the ships transporting them if they catch wind of this. Let's send the advisors on a commercial vessel as quietly as possible to Helrox. No rifles, no ammunition, or any other kind of weapon. Nothing the Tyrians can claim as substantial assistance to the Helrox. Marshall and Naval Triumvirates, you have your orders. Pick your men, and send them out as soon as you can."

After the King left, the Marshall and Naval Triumvirates chose the men they felt best suitable to the job, sending them orders to convene in Regoth before boarding the commercial Illesian trading vessel, IV Winter's Glory, and setting sail for the Helroxi shores near the Republic of Escya. Winter's Glory would be taking the longer sea route near Yorgnir, followed by the Marnish Kingdom, in order to avoid any potential Tyrian interference. Once in Helroxi lands, the advisors expected to be met by Helroxi representatives, as the Illesian Kingdom sent a telegram accepting the deal and informing the Helrox of where they planned to send the advisors and when they should arrive.

The advisors were the following men:

1. Major General Oliver L'Etadre of the 17th Infantry Division. L'Etadre was known far and wide within the Illesian Military as an up-and-coming young man who'd managed to attain the rank of Major General almost by force of will and using a few connections at the age of 36, nearly a decade younger than most Illesian Major Generals. It was expected that he would become one of the preeminent military minds in the future for Illesia.

2. Brigadier General August Jules of the 17th Infantry Division. Jules is L'Etadre's right hand man, well accustomed to his superior and capable of anticipating many of the man's maneuvers and desires.

3. Brigadier General Rolf Roscoe of the 17th Infantry Division. Roscoe is in many ways a quiet, reserved man, but this quality tends to disappear when one looks deeper. He has personally been attributed with a number of aggressive offensives during Illesian War Games, and this quality is likely to show itself in the Second Tyro-Helroxi War.

4. Rear Admiral Samuel Bjorn. Bjorn tends to believe heavily in playing by the tried and true methods of naval warfare, in particular, not attempting to sink an enemy fleet at port.
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The World Undone

(1905--)





Turn 5
June, 1905

June 19th

Ustrela effectively eliminates the majority of Melizean smuggling in coastal waters around the island nation after an intense four month campaign.
June 20th-June 30th

In the Illesian Kingdom, Operation Crusader begins. Given the tentative ceasefire of the Tehmig rebels in Toubrian Serranthia--the Illesian Kingdom received the blessing of the Toubrian Empress to conduct a military operation to effectively neutralize the Tehmig rebels once and for all. Major General Gareth D'Amos of the 10th Infantry Division was appointed head of the operation. After an intense month of training--false landing, live fire drills and partial mobilization techniques--that started on May 20th, Major General D'Amos was allotted to choose 3,000 men from his division to be formed into the 1st Expeditionary Force.

Having departed on June 15th, the IEF (Illesian Expeditionary Force) arrived at Bashirza and met with Governor Almiro Barros. After a six hour reprieve, the 3,000 men of the IEF was ordered into the desert with the orders:
1. 5. Upon locating the Rebels, the Force is to engage and destroy them however Major General D'Amos sees fit.
2. Not a single Rebel is to be left alive. If the Rebels attempt to surrender, D'Amos is to appear to accept this surrender, then round the lot up and execute them.


The Capital of Toubrian Serranthia, Bashirza, 1905

Modern historians believe upwards of 40,000 men, women and children were killed. Called the Black June by Tehmig and Northern Serranthian historians, first hand accounts survive of platoons of Illesian soldiers entering a town of a 1,000 inhabitants and by sun down having "pacified" the vast majority of them. Little care was given to subtlety or discretion. Twice, D'Amos' men had to be resupplied by local Toubrian garrisons due to "dull bayonets" and "overheated rifles." The towns of al-Haza and al-Matsura--total populations of 3,300 and 5,000--were removed from the map. The men were given no quarter, often being shot at first encounter. Women were given one opportunity to "leave," "to move or die" and upon failing to act--generally due to not speaking Illesian--were often shot and killed. Two Illesian officers made a game of having Tehmig children run toward the hills and taking turns shooting at them. There were no shortage of targets. The only honor given to many of these eradicated villages was the lining up of corpses, but this was not out of respect but for purposes of documenting the "amount of militants successfully pacified." D'Amos made a point to stress an optimal operation by keeping a tally of those killed.

Not all Illesians relented to the blood lust of targeting innocents however, but by the journal entry of one Illesian Captain: "It is a determinant of the Almighty whom is innocent and guilty, not an Illesian platoon dispatched to the very strip of the Known World where men was never meant to live."


Major General D'Amos leading the First Expeditionary Force into an allegedly held Tehmig village, June 1905

While there are certainly instances of those who were clearly not Tehmig being left to their own devices, this appears to be the exception rather than the rule. The wanton slaughter of the Tehmig people was more reminiscent of the battlefields of the Second Tyro-Helroxi War than it was a colonial policing action. Similarly, D'Amos had turned the 4th Company of the IEF into a quick reaction force mounted on strong Serranthian steeds lent by local Toubrian nobles. Colonel Albere Touson of said Company earned the nickname "yati almawt" by the locals. Where the Tehmigs were, Touson and his company rode, often engaging in unscrupulous and antagonistic behavior to draw out Tehmig guerrilla fighters and then judiciously eradicating them.


Tehmig mass grave, somewhere in Western Toubrian Serranthia, June 1905

On June 29th, Colonel Touson was given privy information by a local Tehmig of the location of Mullah Kahmar Mustafa, the head of the Tehmig rebellion movement. Through a messenger, Touson requested a meeting for Mustafa--citing the "end of hostilities if Mustafa would sacrifice his own dignity for the sake of his people." Mustafa, having lost two of his wives and six of his children (five of whom were under the age of sixteen), consented. Mustafa and two of his entourage rode unarmed to a meeting spot plotted by Touson on the Northwest Shores. Touson arrived, drew a pistol and shot all three men. Mustafa's head was removed and the corpses left to rot.

By June 30th, nearly a third of Toubrian Serranthia--the vast majority of it the coastal regions--had been "pacified," but military intelligence of Toubrian locals deeper in the territory offered the hypothesis that it was quite possible that this behavior would only increase the tendency of resistance. Others suggested it would quell it entirely.
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This is our time

June 15th, 1905



"The final days, June 15th 1905 - Julia Captial"


"Viscount Zach Nato - May 1904"

The royal palace that once enveloped the state's cabinet, parliament and Viscount Nato himself was emptied out. The streets were rather empty aswell, besides the defensive emplacements inside the walls and on the walls of the giant city walls. Artillery emplacements lay inside the city with their crews while soldiers take position at choke points and on the wall's emplacements. War for Julia was terrible, now being spread open by the Vigentino horde from both sides, fighting was guaranteed to ensure and be the bloodiest this was has seen yet.

Viscount Zach Nato no longer wore his robes or royal attire but a muddied and worn officers uniform, presumably someone elses. It had been a while since he had done army operations, having done some basic officer and military training when he was younger in his teenage years. However life had not been what was promised by his father, a quaint small nation quiet and peaceful now that a series of wars in the 1870s-90s ended over various disputes of land. The wars that his father fought and his generals, all of them gone but one, Commander Mark Killigan. Despite the abysmal failures of Nato and his cabinet the Commander still stood with him and the home guard, now diminished after the road blocks were destoryed by the Vigentino force.

Earlier that day Etello Scianna was shot and killed by a firing squad, the reason - instigation of the war. If people truly believed that then that's what the history book would say. In reality the fat fuck was eating all the food, having failed to recruit any new guards besides prisoners who now have gone rogue to bandit the country side Etelo was nothing but a coward and a agitator for his own gain and nothing more. Regardless, Nato stood up and gathered around his garrision in the area (as summoning all the garrison for the speech would be stupid). About 100-110 men showed up after the call, Nato was standing upon an old Vigentino soap box called "saponem" by Jared & Skeltzer Corp in Vigentionian.

"Men, those who stand with me today and those who have given their lives for Julia let me say I am sorry. I apologize for the way things have been going, the war I've started and the stress I've brought onto us all. However, we as a nation had to stand up and show the world we woulden't be bullied anymore, by the Vigentino menance or the world. We've been on our own, the world has seen and watched us as we've fought for what we've beliefed in. This is our time and still is, we won't let the enemy win. History will remember us, our families will remember us. We were those who decided to defy the tyrants and stand tall united, we won't let the pope have the last laugh. Today, god is dead."

Later that day rationing of food was enacted for the remaining population, since a majority of civillians (women & children) were evaucuated as refugees there would be more food around, hopefully.




"Zach Nato the II, January 1905"

Treading along the flow of refugees, young Zach Nato the II continued along west with the horde of Julians who had been cast aside from the Captial. Feeling betrayed by his father for not allowing his wish to let him fight in the captial, Zach continued on west hopefully to find safety in the country of Vigentino.
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The World Undone

(1905--)





Turn 5
June, 1905

June 21st
To stir economic growth in the Illesian Kingdom, King Avandre VII consults with the Committee on National Finances as well as a number of highly regarded economists such as Ralph Laurvan, a university academic who has spent his life trying to understand the fluxuations of economies and their causes, as well as a number of business owners in Regoth. Together, they have all come to the conclusion that one of the primary hurdles to a business, especially when starting up, is the tax burden upon them. To address this issue, King Avandre VII signs The Nascent Commerce Tax Act of 1905;

The Nascent Commerce Tax Act of 1905
In order to encourage the growth of new businesses in Illesia as well as the economic growth and innovation that the appearance of these businesses brings, King Avandre VII hereby declares that all new businesses that:
1. Are started in Illesia after the passing of this Act;
2. Are started and owned by an Illesian national or majority owned by Illesian nationals;
3. Are not attempting to manipulate this Act in a fraudulent manner to avoid paying their taxes such as closing a business and reopening it under a new name or any other financial trickery as determined by the Ministry of Taxation.

Businesses that meet these three requirements will be considered new by the Ministry of Taxation and will be temporarily taxed only 10% of their revenue for two years after their founding instead of the usual 33.5%. To receive this tax break, when a new business sends in its tax forms, it will notify the Ministry of Taxation on the forms that it is a new business. If the Ministry of Taxation chooses to audit the business and discovers that the individuals or other entities that started the business lied to make the business appear as if it were started after the passing of this Act when in truth the business that existed before the passing of this Act, even under a different name or ownership, the business will be fined an amount equivalent to the amount of tax the business should have paid during the time it was receiving the tax break.
June 22nd
In the Toubrés Empire, the first protest in Amzores takes place. "Nós não somos os segundos! Nós não somos os segundos!" The crowd outside the Empress' Palace was modest, only a few hundred. By day's end, it would nearly eclipse a thousand. There had been larger and more violent demonstrations in times past. The headlines in Tara and Paraka read: "ILLESIA DEFENDS TOUBRIAN PUPPET STATE"
June 25th
In the Parakan Republic, the "Society for Extra-Continental Affairs" is established, chaired by Aynar Mirqaya. "Who the fuck is Aynar Mirqaya?" a Parakan asked. The organization will serve as a deniable asset to counteract Euranian imperialism, by means of military, social and political actions, by means of inciting unrest, propaganda, arming and training partisans favorable to Parakan interests.
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Breakout!

June 16th, 1905




"Tepeste's Army group, on the move June 16th 1905"







"Commander Mark Killigan - undated photo"


"Commander & Author of 'The Julian War Hero' Eugene Kapelo"
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High Kingdom of Itherae


A Start.


June 14th, 1905.

The day is known to many Itheraens as the day that the Itheraen colony in Serrenthia, known to the world as Néo Méros, had been ‘finished’ colonizing. While the colony had a small amount of active settlers, it did have ability to grow into a prosperous colony within the High Kingdom, especially with the near 8,600 Tehmig within its borders and other native coastal tribes that would eventually be incorporated as full citizens to the Kingdom. With the success of the colony, bringing much needed growth to national GDP and industry, and this success would be headed by local government that had been formed there. The Apoikiakó Spíti Itherae would officially be recognized as the local government of the colony by the Supra Dobranie and her Majesty. However, trouble within the colony arised when the question of the nation’s debt crisis coming to fruition on the stage of the Supra Dobranie, and then into the Queen’s lap.

Politicians in the Supra Dobranie had speculated that selling the colony to a major colonizer, such as the very nation they owed the major debt towards, the Taran Empire. However, the idea was dashed by nationalists, and many of the colonial supporters within the Monarchikó Kómma, as well as the Queen, who saw that it would have been a waste of Itheraen resources and time if they were just to sell it. Rather, members of the Ethnikí Epitropí Itheraen would present Queen Athena and the Monarchikó Kómma with the “Antiochis Compromise” in late June.

The Antiochis Compromise would essentially bid 10 km sq. sections of unused colonial lands to be developed by foreign or internal companies in an attempt to raises money to pay off the debt owed, this land would still be owned by the Itheraen Kingdom, but private companies would be allowed to develop the land of their own accord. Additionally, the compromise would raise the corporate tax on Grains and Cereals to 21.5%, to encourage a diversification in Itheraen Industry, and introduce an income tax of a meager 2% on the Itheraen people.

While the Antiochis Compromise would pass, it would also bring to light the pressure of the Itheraen poverty, which citizens were still pressuring the government to bring lower. That was the birth of the Organismós Chrimatodotikís Voítheias (Financial Aid Organization) which would aid unemployed, below the poverty line, to find jobs. Additionally, those under the poverty line would be exempt from taxes, so long as they could prove that they were below the poverty line. This organization would be headed by a humanitarian activist Ceyx Pales, who had been imploring the government to provide some form of aid for those families under the poverty line. Finally, with the founding of this Organization, it would be given a meager $100,000 in yearly funding.

Additionally on the homefront, came the start of the Itheraen Navy with the purchase of three Zitori-class Destroyers; the Cerberus, Medusa, and Minotaur, respectively. While it was a meager force, it was still a start of the naval force. This force was still highly untrained, however, and so Itherae would invite naval officers and admirals to train Itheraen volunteer sailors for the start-up navies, primarily focusing on attracting trainers from the Tyrian Empire, Etelia, and the Toubres Empire.

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The World Undone

(1905--)





Turn 5
June, 1905

June 26th
In order to gain a colonial foothold on the continent of Serranthia the Ustrelan government enlists the help of Marcos Arias, an anthropologist, in order to explore the southern serranthian coast. He is dispatched via the Luca Carballal, a gunboat. Following a four week journey across the Mittel Sea, the Carballal mapped out vast portions of the coast, though Arias was saddened he was not afford the opportunity to step foot onto the continent.


The Arias Expedition, June 1905

Julo-Vigentan War
The Battle of Julia begins. The First Imperial Army and Second Imperial Army begin an intermittent bombardment of the city, having received no further orders from High Command. Thamber's responded in kind but were hopelessly outnumbered and in a battle where range was not a deciding factor. Vigentan soldiers huddled in fox holes while the Puccio 77mm guns carried out their barrage. Per day, the Vigentan artillery batteries fired 15,000 artillery shells a day. In the city, the Julian endured a violent barrage without much response. Julian artillery commanders discovered they could fire 4 to 5 shells before Vigentan artillery began to zeroed in on their positions.


Julian church destroyed during the Battle of Julia, June 1905
June 27th
The Bureau of Armaments in the Holy Empire of Vigentino submits Design Request #001, requesting development of a machine gun.

The requirements were the following:
1. No heavier than 25kg.
2. Able to achieve a fire-rate of at least 450 rounds per minute.
3. Have an effective firing range of at least 1,500 metres.
4. Able to achieve a muzzle velocity of at least 700 metres per second.
5. Require a crew of no more than 3 men to reliably operate.
6. Fire a standard Turano M1887 round.
7. Be loaded with a 250 round canvas belt.
8. Be able to be mounted on a collapsible and detachable tripod.
June 28th
The Supra Dobranie shall send forth an offer to Leonodian Manufacturing, ordering the manufacturing of 32,000 rifles to supplement the Itheraen Army and be distributed amongst its divisions, the completion of these rifles is expected to be done at the end of June. In exchange, Leonodian shall receive $3,000,000 from the Treasury. By the end of June, over 12,000 of these rifles will have been delivered to the Itheraen Army.

[June has now ended.]

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To Generale d'armata Leopoldo Altieri and Generale d'armata Caronte Vita.

Vigentino salutes you for your success in reaching the city of Julia, and the Pope has expressed his wish to thank you both personally once you return.

Now that the Julian forces have been broken at the Battle of Zilorno, your orders are to take the city of Julia, and apprehend Zach Nato and the ruling class of Julia. Preferably alive.

We trust your judgement in how best to go about the matter, but from our reports, both from section of your own forces, and our own intelligence branch, the city itself is defended by only a skeleton garrison. We would prefer to avoid a long drawn out siege, but in this matter we defer to your judgements, due to your closer proximity to the issue.

Good luck, and may the angel watch over you both.

-Vigentian High Command


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High Kingdom of Itherae


Volunteer Aid


“I have always been an early man, being thirty minutes early was always ‘on time’ for me. However, my eagerness to reach the front has hampered with our effort to aid the ones we were supposed to fight alongside…”
-Excerpt from Laskaris’ Journal

Throughout their time in the Tyrian Empire, ‘aiding’ in fighting back the, the beginning of the time of the Itheraen Volunteer Division was riddled with bad logistics and the frustration of being relegated to not so honorable acts that many of the men had wanted. Throughout June, their orders were to construct makeshift roads for Tyrian supply lines or run ammo to the front of the battle, typically known to the Tyrian infantrymen as “Ammo Runners.” Without rifles or field guns, which had been left behind as Commander Laskaris had left before the intend time that the unit was supposed to leave, while the rifles and field guns would remain at an Itheraen port until June 15th when they would be shipped to the front at the designated time.

In the Battle of Tretzen, an “Ammo Runner” by the name Demitrios Irus of had run nearly fifty-times in one day, avoiding Helroxi rifle fire, whilst carrying a total fifty-pounds of rifle ammo. He was present on the day of June 13th where rifle fire was so fierce at some points that he was his officer forbid him to run again out of fear of losing him. The, at the time, Private Demitrios would go on to state “...I feel guilt that I did not disobey orders and run out that ammo, I saw many men who needed it who were killed by Helroxi rifles.”

The volunteers would not see their rifles and field guns until it was early July, where the men would have a newfound eagerness to meet the enemy in battle after weeks of digging makeshift roads, running ammo to Tyrian men, or at some points, aiding the spotting points of enemy presence when Tyrians could not see through the smoke produced by their field guns. This division, while no longer making roads or running ammunition to the front, would actually be able to properly participate and future offensives in the war.

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