[i]"If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs, obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud. Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues, my friend, you would not tell with such high zest to children ardent for some desperate glory, the old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est Pro patria mori." [/i] -Wilfred Owen

[center][h2]Summer of 1799[/h2][/center]

[center][img]https://image.ibb.co/h7PaMU/Country_Labelled.png[/img][/center]

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

A group of colonists embark from Caledonia, the colony of [b][color=00aeef]The Empire of Attolia[/color][/b]. Under orders from the Emperor himself, a Line Infantry Division is ordered to accompany the settlers, as well as a handful of the Empire's sloops. Relations already established with the natives of the southern part of the island helps smooth the process, and the colonists quickly begin building a settlement. Before long, New Caledonia is established. 

[u][i][b]6th of April[/b][/i][/u]

While [b]The Kingdom of Sescos[/b] still awaits the total support of [b][color=ed1c24]The Redcliff Empire[/color][/b], and [b]The Echyan Empire[/b] hesitates in the face of the strength of Redcliff, it is [b]The Republic of Oflua[/b] that acts. Officially declaring war against Sescos, the armies of Oflua make their move. Keen on further securing their control of the waters surrounding the two nations, and striving to drive a wedge to divide the nation in two and bring a swift conclusion to the war, more than thirty thousand of the Republic's soldiers march across the border into the capital Province of Sescosi. 

[u][i][b]7th of April[/b][/i][/u]

A Diplomatic party from [b][color=007236]The Three City's Republic of Ianian[/color][/b] arrives into [b]The Echyan Empire[/b] capital of Kallidos, with an offer of exemption from the Mediterranean Tax of 1799 if Echya agrees to withdraw their alliance with [b][color=630460]The Eternal Hadeen of Dashkatar[/color][/b] and instead pledge their support for the peace summit proposed by the Pope. The offer, however, comes one day too late. With the offensive of [b]The Republic of Oflua[/b], [b]Echya[/b] finds its hand forced. War is a reality, and even the fleet of Ianian cannot offer the support that Dashkatar is able to. They reluctantly refuse the offer, and suggest that the Ianian party leaves, before it is too late. Before the day is out, Echya has declared war on the [b]Kingdom of Sescos[/b]. 

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

The invading force of [b]The Republic of Oflua[/b] splits in two, marching to the north and to the south, to cut off the capital from supporting forces. In a brave, but potentially reckless move, King Bakos Mátyás orders his own troops to march out and meet the Ofluans in open battle. Desperate to not be cut off from potential allies to the north, the army of [b]The Kingdom of Sescos[/b], led by the Kings own son, Prince Pieter, marched to intercept the northern branch of the Republic's forces. Catching the Republic's army as it crossed the River Kairis, the battle is ferocious. In what is either tactical brilliance, or sheer luck, the Prince positions his forces to exploit the marshy grounds lying on the western bank of the River Kairis. The superior numbers of the Republic quickly prove ineffective, as they struggle to traverse the difficult terrain, finding themselves at the mercy of the Prince's cannons. The fighting is bloody, for both sides, but the Prince holds his ground, and drives the Republic back across the river. The water runs red with blood, and almost five thousand men lie dead. The Republic's northern army falls back, but news soon reaches the army still in the south.

With the main capital garrison occupied in the north, the southern forces of the Republic change their course, and quickly make their way towards the Kingdom's capital of Larymnas.