[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]Winter of 1799[/h2][/center]

[img]https://image.ibb.co/bGMUp9/Country_Labelled.png[/img]

[u][i][b]29th of November[/b][/i][/u]

Aid for the garrison of Edisos is too slow in coming. With the army of [b]The Eternal Hadeen of Dashkatar[/b] only growing in confidence and experience with every victory, supported by the Dashkatar navy, they are able to shatter the defenses of the city, and tear down the flag of [b]The Kingdom of Sescos[/b]. But the main army of Sescos, spearheaded by King Pieter Mátyás himself, is on the move, marching along the River Livas with the intention to shatter the invading army before they can reach the nation's capital. 

[u][i][b]2nd of December[/b][/i][/u] 

An ambassador of [b][color=ed1c24]The Redcliff Empire[/color][/b] is sent to [b]The Akkadian Empire[/b], with plans to attempt to lower the tensions between the nations. This, however, is a resounding failure. Redcliff's position on the international stage is in tatters after their actions during the Conference, and their following behavior has only further damaged their reputation. And Akkadia's new friendship with  [b][color=007236]The Three City's Republic of Ianian[/color][/b], a nation quite clear in it's stance towards Redcliff, only further strengthens their position. The ambassador is sent home with empty hands almost before he even arrives, 

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

With only a handful of artillery, the army of [b][color=ed1c24]The Redcliff Empire[/color][/b], cut off and far from home, has been unable to break through the defenses of Bulam. And while they have struggled to bring an end to the siege, the forces of [b]The Eternal Hadeen of Dashkatar[/b] have gathered in response. It is still early in the morning when the Dashkatar army reaches the besieging city. What follows is bloody and brutal. The Redcliff soldiers are well-trained, and well-equipped, but they have been out-maneuvered, and they are heavily outnumbered, caught between the relief force, and the garrison which quickly seizes the opportunity and sorties out of the city. Thousands of men are cut down in a relentless crossfire, and after only a matter of hours, the battle is decisively over. The Redcliff army is shattered, and the survivors are forced to flee. The Dashkatar commander allows them to go. They have nowhere to go but the desert. 

[u][i][b]5th of December [/b][/i][/u]

[b]The Republic of Oflua[/b] is not one to lay idly by, and let [b][color=ed1c24]The Redcliff Empire[/color][/b] army rampage through their land. Their army had yet to truly disband, and the soldiers are all too ready to take up arms again against an invading army. The garrisons of the city ready themselves, and once again the Republic calls on [b]The Kingdom of Ilastiri[/b] for aid. As luck would have it, the Ilastiri army is yet to return, and agree to continue their march, quickly bolstering the army that the Republic can bring to bear to defend itself.

[u][i][b]8th of December[/b][/i][/u]

Honoring their pledge during the Conference, [b][color=007236]The Three City's Republic of Ianian[/color][/b] declares war on [b][color=ed1c24]The Redcliff Empire[/color][/b]. They call for [b]The Akkadian Empire[/b] to join them, and the Akkadia's readily do, already on the verge of declaring war on their own after Redcliff's actions against Dashkatar. The flames of war continue to spread through Europe. 

[u][i][b]10th of December[/b][/i][/u]

A considerable force is gathered by [b][color=ed1c24]The Redcliff Empire[/color][/b], and it marches north to 'retake' the province of Ventir. They find, of course, that there is no Echyan army to drive out, [b]The Echyan Empire[/b] already having withdrawn from the province some two months prior. Nonetheless, the Redcliff army claims the province again. Where the army will be sent next, is yet to be revealed. 

[u][i][b]11th of December[/b][/i][/u]

The army of [b][color=fff200]The Holy Territories of Edoniras[/color][/b], self-dubbed as the 'Holy Light', is given it's marching orders. It quickly becomes apparent that despite their deep-rooted religious connection, Edoniras intends to keep their pledge, made at the Conference, and they march forces into the territories of [b][color=ed1c24]The Redcliff Empire[/color][/b], declaring war on Redcliff. Bizarrely, this proves to be the second time that an enemy marches into a Redcliff province and finds it totally undefended. The province of Salid is now in the hands of the Holy Territories. 

[u][i][b]13th of December[/b][/i][/u]

On the banks of the River Livas, the armies of [b]The Kingdom of Sescos[/b] and [b]The Eternal Hadeen of Dashkatar[/b] meet. The Sescosi force is outnumbered, but King Pieter Mátyás is quickly proving himself to be a highly accomplished military commander. Using the weapons in his arsenal to full effect, King Mátyás fights a vicious and brutal series of raids, guerrilla attacks and rearguard actions that all but cripple Dashkatar's advance. Blood stains the fresh snow for miles, but the Dashkatar army continues to grind forwards. The Sescosi army is forced to largely retreat, back to Larymnas, to brace for the inevitable siege. A handful of volunteers remain, continuing to fight Dashkatar for every step they take.  

[b][i][u]14th of December[/u][/i][/b]

[b][color=708090]The Kingdom of Ubren[/color][/b] sinks a significant portion of its budget into creating an Academy of Ballistic Sciences, focused around improving the artillery of Ubren. This clear sign of intent is an impressive step by the Kingdom of Ubren, and is largely the first such step by any nation into improving artillery, which is quickly proving to be one of the most powerful tools in the arsenal of Europe's armies. 

[u][i][b]16th of December[/b][/i][/u]

Moving in support of the army already in the newly-conquered province of Salid, a fleet of [b][color=fff200]The Holy Territories of Edoniras[/color][/b] also embarks. In truth, they have little to do, due to the lack of any garrison in the province, but they still serve as a useful deterrent to any Redcliff counter-attack. 

[u][i][b]17th of December[/b][/i][/u] 

Far away from the spiraling tensions in Europe, a colonial party of [b][color=007236]The Three City's Republic of Ianian[/color][/b] sails south, and docks into territory that it will come to dub as Resia. With their continuing colonial expansion, the Three City's is quickly becoming one of the prominent global powers. How they use this power, still stands to be seen. 

[u][i][b]19th of December[/b][/i][/u]

[b][color=0054a6]The Empire of Rubrus[/color][/b] announces a large-scale civic scheme. Faced with vast territories, the Empire engages it's huge workforce, and puts them to the task of renovating the outdated roads that connect the far-flung settlements of Rubrus. A new scheme of highways is laid out, and although the cost is undoubtedly high, and the work will take months to complete, it has at least begun. Some new vigor seems to have grabbed the Empire of Rubrus, and a new player has joined the game of politics that is consuming Europe. 

[b][i][u]20th of December[/u][/i][/b]

Even with their armies on the march, [b][color=fff200]The Holy Territories of Edoniras[/color][/b] continues the great religious festival that is still occurring across it's lands. The Pope himself gives a speech, and it's message is clear. A new era of religious expression and expansion is laid out. Vipionism will burn like a fire that consumes Europe, whether it is through the power of speech and diplomacy, or through bloodshed and war. 

[b][i][u]22nd of December[/u][/i][/b] 

Admiral Topi Valtonen, of [b][color=00aeef]The Empire of Attolia[/color][/b], embarks from Europe at the head of a sizable fleet. It's intentions are clear; vengeance. Attolian blood has been shed, and blood must be paid in blood. Joining the fleet already set off by [b][color=007236]The Three City's Republic of Ianian[/color][/b], the Attolian ships begin the long journey. It will be months until they reach their destination, but the intent is clear.

[u][i][b]23rd of December[/b][/i][/u]

The Royal Academy of [b][color=0054a6]The Empire of Rubrus[/color][/b] is founded, developing the already-established Academy of Rubrus, and making a clear statement for the encouragement of study, and of scholars. In a day and age of war seeming to be the only constant, this is an unusual, but largely welcomes move. The resurgence of Rubrus does not seem to be losing momentum. 

[u][i][b]26th of December[/b][/i][/u]

In a move that very few saw coming, [b][color=708090]The Kingdom of Ubren[/color][/b] marches its army to war. But it is not the army that comes as such a surprise, but rather the direction. North. General Janik Tillich leads his forces into the territories of [b]The Kingdom of Aontas[/b]. The province of Torrik is fortified, but spies of Ubren have filtered into the province over the months, and as the Ubren army marches north, sabotage attacks erupt all along the Aontas defenses. However Mother Winter has gripped the frozen north, and the Ubren progress is slowed. 

[u][i][b]27th of December[/b][/i][/u] 

[b][color=00aeef]The Empire of Attolia[/color][/b] establishes the Attolian Stock Exchange. One of the first of it's kind, the Stock Exchange goes on to promote economic growth throughout the nation, as well as opening the doors to a whole world of new opportunities. Wealth floods into the coffers of Attolia, which is quickly forging it's reputation as one of the financial hearts of Europe. 

[u][i][b]29th of December[/b][/i][/u]

For weeks, the rebels in the colonies of [b][color=ed1c24]The Redcliff Empire[/color][/b] have carried out guerrilla attacks against their oppressors. However recently, the severity has only heightened. Somehow, the rebels are being armed, muskets and cannons arriving from some unknown vendor. The attacks quickly become more brazen, and more effective. The garrison suddenly finds itself on an even playing field, and every turn they take, they find that the rebels are one step ahead. The streets run red, and with forces of [b]The Naziim Kaliphate[/b] amassing over the border, Redcliff's grasp on their colonies is quickly weakening. 

[u][i][b]30th of December[/b][/i][/u]

Despite the winter continuing to grip Northern Europe, the cogs of [b][color=0054a6]The Empire of Rubrus[/color][/b] continue to turn. They are nothing if not hardy folk, and they are not the type to be put off by subzero temperatures and near-constant night. Making use of their already established close relationship with [b]The Kingdom of Claidor[/b], the Empire looks to open wider trading channels with Claidor. Unsurprisingly, Claidor agrees, and trade caravans begin the long journeys between the two nations trade centers.