[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 1800[/h2][/center]

[img]https://image.ibb.co/jPNMd0/Country-Labelled.png[/img]

[b][i][u]1st of October[/u][/i][/b]

[b][color=2e3192]The Kingdom of Aontas[/color][/b] begins a project of expanding it's Marine ranks, as well as constructing rudimentary craft to carry them. This in itself is a fairly unusual step. The Marines that sail aboard the ships of Europe are, largely, there to maintain order, as well as fighting in the various boarding actions that might occur with enemy vessels. Even when used in naval landings, it is only in small numbers, so this move, of ships dedicated to ferrying Marines, is a radical one. Whether this move will prove to be successful, still stands to be seen. 

[b][i][u]4th of October[/u][/i][/b]

Relatively aghast at the state of it's new allies army, [b][color=00aeef]The Empire of Attolia[/color][/b] sends military advisors and officers to [b][color=39b54a]The Echyan Empire[/color][/b], to attempt to aid in the training of their army, especially considering the conflict threatening to overflow into the lands of Echya. The Continental Alliance is already starting to flex it's quickly strengthening muscles. 

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

The referendum to decide the future of the Holy City of Akteme draws to a close. The result is a resounding success in favour of the city remaining firmly in the hands of [b]The Republic of Oflua[/b]. However, while many worry that this will reopen the rift between the Republic and [b]The Akkadian Empire[/b], diplomacy wins a rare victory. The opening of religious channels between the nations, orchestrated by [b][color=007236]The Three City's Republic of Ianian[/color][/b], has clearly had a resounding effect, and Oflua vows to open the Holy City to pilgrims of Akkadia, on their religion's most holy day, even providing food and safety to the worshipers. This is unsurprisingly a resoundingly popular proposal, strengthening the bonds between the nations as the unity of humanity shines through the gathering clouds.

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

In what is a shocking turn of events, [b]The Eternal Hadeen of Dashkatar[/b] abandons the Siege of Larymnas. Under the cover of night, with the combined army of [b]The Republic of Oflua[/b] and [b]The Kingdom of Ilastiri[/b] absorbed in the monotony of bombarding the city defences, the entire Dashkatar force sallies out. They easily break through the encircling army, and before General Andrei Obnizov can react, the army is too gone, and they cannot risk pursuing them. Still reeling, the combined army marches into the city, although after so much bloodshed, it is little more than a haunted ruin. 

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

Obviously keen to finish the siege before the bitter winter sets in, General Klavdiy Levin, of [color=0054a6][b]The Empire of Rubrus[/b][/color], finally acts. Calling on the experience of the soldiers of [b]The Kingdom of Claidor[/b], several of whom have served garrison duty for the city of Batko in the past, the General is able to draw up a plan that allows him to exploit natural weaknesses in the cities defences, many of which [b]The Kingdom of Vendsyssel[/b] garrison will not know of. It only takes a matter of days to breach the walls, and once they are breached, the siege quickly draws to a close, the combined army shattering the Vendsyssel defenders. 

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

The rebel raids against [b][color=007236]The Three City's Republic of Ianian[/color][/b] continue, the colony of Linia being quickly bloodied by progressively more aggressive and ambitious attacks. These attacks a far cry from the rudimentary raids against the old colonies of [b]The Redcliff Empire[/b]. The rebels, many originating from tribes now serving under [b]The Naziim Caliphate[/b], are more experienced, more blood-thirsty and, most worryingly of all, far better armed. The population of the colony are rocked by this, and riots begin to break out, calling out for aid against the rebels. 

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

The pleas of it's people do not go unanswered for long, and [b][color=007236]The Three City's Republic of Ianian[/color][/b] sends aid. Three thousand men of the Ianian Foreign Legion march east from the colony of Southpoint, and spread out across Linia, detachments moving to all the major population centers. Their effect is immediate, the rebels far more tentative after they first encounter the soldiers of the Republic, but this change won't last forever. But for now, it is a much needed damming of the flow. Another division of the Foreign Legion is dispatched, but it will be some time before they reach Linia.

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

Apparently not content with the simple construction of it's extensive new road system, [color=0054a6][b]The Empire of Rubrus[/b][/color] implements a new tollbooth system across all the major roads. Due to the highways offering the only real method of travelling across the vast expanse of the Empire, these tolls are certainly profitable, although they unsurprisingly prove unpopular. 

[b][i][u]21st of October[/u][/i][/b] 

Continuing it's attempted reformation, [b][color=2e3192]The Kingdom of Aontas[/color][/b] continues to pour investment into it's modernization efforts. The loans offered to the nation's gunsmiths are still proving popular, and the first breakthrough is made. To the far north of the nation, an immensely experienced engineer is able to refine the basic musket, or at least produce a prototype for it. New of his work quickly spreads, and in a few months, the factories of Aontas could begin producing this new musket. 

[b][i][u]25th of October[/u][/i][/b]

[color=f26522][b]The Republic of Toubres[/b][/color] wastes no time in further strengthening it's growing ties with [b]The Holy Territories of Edoniras[/b] and [b]The Redcliff Empire[/b]. Despite not sharing the same devoutness of it's two new allies, with the actions of the Continental Alliance, and [b][color=00aeef]The Empire of Attolia[/color][/b] having sided with [b][color=39b54a]The Echyan Empire[/color][/b], a self-declared paragon of an opposing faith, the hand of the Pope is forced. With the support of the Redcliff Empire, following it's naval aid, the Republic is able to make it's case successfully. Under the eyes of the divine god, and no doubt swayed by Toubres' undeniable power, a new alliance is forged. The three nations turn their gaze outwards, and rumors quickly swirl of what their first united move will be. 

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

Whether decided by it's own rulers, or by the increasingly powerful Attolian East Asia Trading Company, [b][color=00aeef]The Empire of Attolia[/color][/b] expands it's colonial holdings to the Far East. What is quickly becoming clear to observers, is that it is the Company that wields the power in the region. Their private navy rivals the Empire's own, and their mercenaries far outnumber any soldiers that Attolia could realistically mobilize in case of conflict. For now, at least, the Company's interests align with those of Attolia herself, but the shareholders will no doubt be carefully watching the Empire's coming actions. 

[b][i][u]28th of October[/u][/i][/b] 

The army of [b]The Eternal Hadeen of Dashkatar[/b], bloodied but still formidable, consolidates in the province of Osnic. There, it finds it's supplies replenished, and it's numbers swelled. For a moment at least, it waits, licking it's wounds, as the forces of Europe seem to align against it. But Dashkatar is no longer alone. Although they have not yet reared their head, a formidable ally has sworn a bond of blood with the Eternal Hadeen, and even now prepares to act against Dashkatar's enemies. 

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

Still seeking to control the rebels in their colonies, [b][color=007236]The Three City's Republic of Ianian[/color][/b] calls on it's allies aid. [b]The Akkadian Empire[/b] readily accepts the call, and the move is certainly a well-thought out one. Soldiers, of the same faith as the rebels, are ferried to Linia, and Hijeen priests are able to reach out to the rebels on a far more personal level than any have managed before. Although the dialects differ to some degree, the base language is the same, and the beliefs are the same. For now, at least, the fire is reduced to a smolder, although it does not extinguish.