[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]

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

Under the pretense of 'supporting the war effort', [color=0054a6][b]The Empire of Rubrus[/b][/color] raises it's tax rates. This is met with almost immediate outcry. Although the people of the Empire are keen to show their support for defending their allies, [b]The Kingdom of Claidor[/b], they did not envision that this support would extend to their own pockets. The vagueness of the instructions almost lead to total disaster, and it is only the bureaucracy of Rubrus that is able to stave off total chaos, and make their own decision for the increase in tax, doubling the current rate. 

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

Calling on their ancient, and ingrained cultural bond, [b][color=708090]The Kingdom of Ubren[/color][/b] and [b]The Redcliff Empire[/b] once again re-enforce their close links. Despite Ubren pushing for a full alliance, Redcliff is perhaps a touch tentative, at least for now. Perhaps concerned by Ubren's increasingly war-like behavior, Redcliff instead agrees only to a defensive alliance, both nations swearing to come to each others aid in the case of military actions against them, although there are rumors that there are more aggressive plans coming into play between the two nations. 

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

For now at least, the rebels actions against Linia, the colony of [b][color=007236]The Three City's Republic of Ianian[/color][/b], have slowed. The increased garrison appears to have served it's purpose as a deterrent, but the priests of [b]The Akkadian Empire[/b] report that something seems to have shifted in the actions of the tribes of [b]The Shuren Dynasty[/b], and even here, far to the west from Akteme, the name of Majdi al-Selim is whispered in hushed tones.  

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

[b][color=2e3192]The Kingdom of Aontas[/color][/b] calls on [b][color=00aeef]The Empire of Attolia[/color][/b], looking to gain entry into the increasingly powerful ranks of The Continental Alliance. Although it forces itself into an alliance with it's historic rivals, [color=0054a6][b]The Empire of Rubrus[/b][/color], Aontas clearly recognizes the need for allies, no doubt still reeling from it's heavy defeat at the hands of [b][color=708090]The Kingdom of Ubren[/color][/b].

[b][i][u]15th of December[/u][/i][/b]

The fleet of [b][color=39b54a]The Echyan Empire[/color][/b] continues it's actions against [b]The Eternal Hadeen of Dashkatar[/b]. Growing ever more ambitious, Admiral Darko Zauhar leads a string of raids and attacks all along the Dashkatar coastline. Using the marines at their disposal, under the command of General Duje Popović. The expedition is temporarily delayed, as General Popović has to relinquish his command over Echya's colony of New Echya, and make the long journey back to the homeland before they can disembark. The seven hundred Marines that serve on the ships do what they can, but they quickly have to abandon their targets of port cities, as they cannot possibly hope to scale the formidable defences in such small numbers. They do succeed however in attacking villages along the coast, and generally harassing the Eternal Hadeen. 

[u][i][b]18th of December[/b][/i][/u]

Almost overnight, a string of diplomatic masterstrokes all across [b]The Akkadian Empire[/b], Majdi al-Selim, still little more than a name to those observing the situation, becomes the effective ruler of the Empire. His influence is overwhelming, and it is already spilling over into the lands of [b]The Eternal Hadeen of Dashkatar[/b]. The man himself is still an enigma, but he clearly possesses a titanic force of will. 

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

[b][color=39b54a]The Echyan Empire[/color][/b] makes full use of the newly arrived advisors from [b][color=00aeef]The Empire of Attolia[/color][/b], pouring almost obscene amounts of money into attempting to improve their army. It will be no easy process, and despite the help from Attolia, initial progress is slow. Unsurprisingly, this suddenly increased rigour of training does not go down well with the existing soldiers of Echya, and there is grumbling among the ranks. 

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

Continuing it's attempted reformation of it's army, [b][color=39b54a]The Echyan Empire[/color][/b] begins a recruitment campaign with the intention of raising seventy thousand men. Considering that this will be effectively doubling the size of the current army, it is a herculean task. Echya has never been a military nation, instead enjoying good trade and a serviceable navy to protect their interests. Even with the highly religiously-charged rhetoric of the recruiters, recruitment is slow. The presence of the forces of [b][color=00aeef]The Empire of Attolia[/color][/b] does not improve recruitment, instead it serves the opposite purpose. If other soldiers will so readily come to their aid, why do they need their own? 

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

The strength of the followers of Majdi al-Selim in [b]The Eternal Hadeen of Dashkatar[/b] continues to swell at an unforeseeable rate. The message of unity, and the strength of unity and faith, that the man seems to preach, is a popular one. Dashkatar are all too aware of the danger, having seen the control that the man now wields in [b]The Akkadian Empire[/b], but in truth, the rulers of the Eternal Hadeen are helpless to prevent the wave that is sweeping their nation. This is no enemy that they can send their armies against, it is an idea, a belief, and it is overwhelmingly powerful. 

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

[b][color=39b54a]The Echyan Empire[/color][/b] continues its colonial expansions, sending a colonial expedition south from New Navasy. A formidable fleet accompanies the colonists, and those who join the expedition are given a promise of great opportunities. Many do, no doubt keen to escape the increasingly militaristic homeland of the Empire, and hoping that they will be at least be able to avoid being drafted into the army if they sail to the other side of the world. The colony of Orlovic is founded.