[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]Autumn of 1800[/h2][/center] [img]https://image.ibb.co/jPNMd0/Country-Labelled.png[/img] [u][i][b]2nd of September[/b][/i][/u] In the city of Akteme, holy city for [b]The Akkadian Empire[/b] but currently controlled by [b]The Republic of Oflua[/b], the referendum to decide the cities future begins. Initial reports suggest that the vote will almost entirely be in favour of the city remaining in Ofluan hands. This comes as little surprise, the city having been held by the Republic for generations, and very few native Akkadians living within the city. [u][i][b]4th of September[/b][/i][/u] Despite the gathered strength under his command, General Klavdiy Levin, at the head of the forces of both [b]The Kingdom of Claidor[/b] and [color=0054a6][b]The Empire of Rubrus[/b][/color], cannot seem to find a way to end the Second Siege of Batko. With winter quickly approaching, something needs to be done, or the potential victory may quickly turn into a long, cold, battle of attrition. [u][i][b]7th of September[/b][/i][/u] With it's colonial holdings only continuing to grow, an extensive propaganda campaign comes into effect across [color=f26522][b]The Republic of Toubres[/b][/color]. The campaign looks to encourage the people of Toubres to travel to the colonies and settle there, giving them the opportunity to carve out a new life for themselves. Several of the Republic's ships are given over to provide safe transport for these new colonists, and thousands leap at the chance. It is the Western Territories and Southern Territories that are the most popular destinations, perhaps unsurprisingly due to the resounding success that the two colony 'nations' are enjoying. [u][i][b]8th of September[/b][/i][/u] The Continental Alliance is forged between [b][color=00aeef]The Empire of Attolia[/color][/b] and [color=0054a6][b]The Empire of Rubrus[/b][/color]. The ink has barely dried before [b][color=39b54a]The Echyan Empire[/color][/b] requests permission to join the alliance. The three nations share only a tenuous link, but apparently it is enough for them to swear to aid each other in times of war. [b][i][u]11th of September[/u][/i][/b] [b][color=708090]The Kingdom of Ubren[/color][/b] continues to pour investment into its Grand Arsenal, and the project is completed. The arsenal is a commanding structure, and while it maintains it's supply lines, Ubren's formidable armies will be well-supplied, and well-equipped. With a victory already established in the north, many are eagerly watching the Kingdom of Ubren, for some clue as to where the nation will turn it's attention next. [b][i][u]14th of September[/u][/i][/b] Elections for the Senate of [b][color=007236]The Three City's Republic of Ianian[/color][/b] are approaching, and it quickly becomes apparent that it will be for a bigger Senate than ever before. Each of the Republic's colonies are granted two Senate seats, one to be held by an elected colonist, and the other by an elected native. This is a huge step, and unsurprisingly causes murmurs from the traditionalists. But for the colonists, and the natives in Ianian held land, this is a clear sign of their importance, and they embrace it. [b][i][u]17th of September[/u][/i][/b] At the city of Larymnas, the siege continues. However, the balance is slowly shifting in favour of the combined army of [b]The Republic of Oflua[/b] and [b]The Kingdom of Ilastiri[/b]. A small, bedraggled band of [b]The Kingdom of Sescos[/b] soldiers have joined the ranks of the avenging army, and are able to highlight the weaknesses of the defences, as well as the best plan of attack once the walls are breached. With this knowledge, and their numerical advantage, the siege should soon come to a close. The greatest danger however, lies to the south, as the second army of [b]The Eternal Hadeen of Dashkatar[/b] prepares to march north. [b][i][u]20th of September[/u][/i][/b] [b][color=00aeef]The Empire of Attolia[/color][/b] takes what many consider an unusual step. A diplomatic party is sent out, their destination the lands of the Naziim Caliphate. Almost right from the off, they run into difficulties. They do succeed in gaining audience with Caliph Aarif al-Naziim, but they quickly find that this is a far cry from European politics. The Caliphate is made up of countless tribes, all with their own distinct culture and dialect, even the language barrier with Aarif proves difficult to navigate, and it quickly becomes apparent that while they swear loyalty to him, the Caliph has next to no control over the individual tribes. He tells the Attolians that many of the tribes, those wronged by Europeans at least, are flocking to the call of [b]The Eternal Hadeen of Dashkatar[/b], planning to make use of the weapons that were provided to them by 'ships from the west'. As for Attolia's other request, to take control of the Suez, Aarif cannot grant it. He thanks them for their visit, sending them homeward with various trinkets and gifts, but they can't help but feel they have really left empty-handed. [b][i][u]21st of September[/u][/i][/b] Capitalizing on their strengthened diplomatic link, [b][color=007236]The Three City's Republic of Ianian[/color][/b] hurries to invited [b]The Republic of Oflua[/b] to join the European Trading League. Oflua unsurprisingly accepts, and yet another nation joins the League. Despite the recent actions of [b][color=39b54a]The Echyan Empire[/color][/b] calling into question their commitment to it, the League, with Ianian at it's head, remains exceedingly powerful. [b][i][u]24th of September[/u][/i][/b] Symbolic of their return to the fold, a grand religious ceremony is held in Edo, the capital of [b]The Holy Territories of Edoniras[/b]. King Marino enters the High Cathedral alone, and unarmed. Pope Invictus XI himself leads the congregation, and it is from his hands that King Marino takes the Sword. It is a heavily symbolic procedure, but by it's end, the alliance between [b]The Redcliff Empire[/b] and [b]The Holy Territories of Edoniras[/b] has been forged in the eyes of god, and Redcliff has retaken it's place as the sword of Vipionism. A surprise guest at the ceremony is a contingent of [color=f26522][b]The Republic of Toubres[/b][/color]. It seems that following it's aid to Redcliff, Toubres has also entered the fold, or at least been deemed worthy enough to be granted an audience with the Pope. [b][i][u]25th of September[/u][/i][/b] A heavily protected colonist party embarks from [b][color=39b54a]The Echyan Empire[/color][/b] colony of New Levoz. Unfortunately the Echyan's attempt to spread their hold over the region falls at the first hurdle. As they march north, they find that the area is already claimed as the burgeoning colony of Casata, under the flag of [b][color=007236]The Three City's Republic of Ianian[/color][/b]. Through a sheer stroke of luck, the group is well-supplied, and are able to quickly divert, marching south instead. There at least, they find unclaimed land, and take it as their own, birthing the colony of New Navasy with no issue. [b][i][u]27th of September[/u][/i][/b] The weakness of their army made glaringly obvious by their recent conflict with [b][color=708090]The Kingdom of Ubren[/color][/b], [b][color=2e3192]The Kingdom of Aontas[/color][/b] sets out to attempt to improve the quality of it's armies weapons. The loans quickly prove popular, and several gunsmiths begin working, but it will be some time before any results are evident. [b][i][u]30th of September[/u][/i][/b] The rebels attacks on the colony of Linia continue. With no garrison of [b][color=007236]The Three City's Republic of Ianian[/color][/b] to stand against them, they run rampant. What is far more concerning is the weapons that the rebels evidently somehow possess, high quality muskets, and even cannons, that they use brutally against the colonists of the area. Extremist portions of the colonies natives begin to lean towards the rebels, some even joining them outright.