[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]Spring of 1801[/h2][/center]

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

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

The results of the elections that have been sweeping across [b][color=007236]The Three City's Republic of Ianian[/color][/b] are finalized. The two major power blocks of the Republic, the currently in power New Power coalition, and the Old Freedom Coalition, have been locking horns for months. Despite the problems in the colony of Linia, and the increasing tension with the newly formed Continental Alliance, Ianian has enjoyed a period of great power and influence, and the Old Freedom's push for neutrality and non-intervention is struggling to hold strength in the face of the boiling conflicts threatening to erupt across Europe. Of the 118 seats available, New Power wins 77 of them, including most of the newly appointed seats for the colonies. 

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

[b][color=007236]The Three City's Republic of Ianian[/color][/b] sends a diplomatic party to [b]The Naziim Caliphate[/b]. Although few have high hopes following the reported failure of the similar expedition by [b][color=00aeef]The Empire of Attolia[/color][/b], the diplomats of the Republic find a slightly different Caliphate awaiting them. Using their relations with [b]The Akkadian Empire[/b], they can at least make some headway with the language barrier, and are also granted audience with Caliph Aarif al-Naziim. Some uniting force has been bringing the scattered tribes together, the name Majdi al-Selim being whispered. The Caliph reveals that he has felt his power slipping through his fingers, and that he is not the man to talk to about relations with the Caliphate any longer. But he cannot grant audience with al-Selim, and he admits that in truth, he doesn't even know if the man really exists. 

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

With one army bloodied by defeat at the Siege of Batko, another force of [b]The Kingdom of Vendsyssel[/b] pushes across the border into the province of Animara. With [b]The Kingdom of Claidor[/b] having committed a sizable portion of it's forces under the leadership of [color=0054a6][b]The Empire of Rubrus[/b][/color], they are poorly equipped to defend against this move. The garrisons of the cities of Animara dig in. 

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

[b][color=2e3192]The Kingdom of Aontas[/color][/b] continues it's dogged recruitment of Marines, swelling their ranks even further. It is clear that whatever war they intend to wage, it will not be one of clashing great armies. 

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

No doubt in direct response to the increasingly aggressive actions of [b][color=708090]The Kingdom of Ubren[/color][/b], [b][color=00aeef]The Empire of Attolia[/color][/b] begins an extensive recruitment drive, the rhetoric calling upon the people of Attolia to rise up and defend their lands. Despite the formidable strength of Ubren's army, people do sign up, and the Empire's army grows, war quickly becoming almost inevitable. 

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

Further re-enforcing it's greatest defence, [color=f26522][b]The Republic of Toubres[/b][/color] begins constructing impressive naval defences along it's coastline. It's island nature has long afforded it sanctuary from the wars that spread through Europe in the centuries past, but with these new fortifications, coupled with the Republic's exceedingly powerful navy, and reformed army, any hopes of invading Toubres and not facing obscene bloodshed, is quickly becoming a pipe dream. 

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

[b][color=007236]The Three City's Republic of Ianian[/color][/b] passes the 'University Act'. The goal is to create new, public universities across the Three City's. The move is welcomed, and the universities will no doubt be well attended once they are constructed, although it will still only be the rich that can afford to abandon their jobs and walk through the doors. 

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

Facing dissension in the face of war, [b][color=00aeef]The Empire of Attolia[/color][/b] attempts to raise morale through the announcement of a string of festivals and military parades, all across Attolia. The celebrations are intended to focus around the founding of the Empire, and it's prestige, and will be attended by none other than the Emperor himself. The festivities quickly prove to be a popular, if expensive, distraction. 

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

Although few fully grasp how it has happened, [b]The Eternal Hadeen of Dashkatar[/b] too has fallen under the influence of Majdi al-Selim, or at least of the promise of the man. Although the rulers of the Eternal Hadeen still hold their power, they are under no illusions that if they go against the wishes of the by now mythical figure, they will be dragged from their beds and slaughtered on the streets by the fanatically devout followers. With reports coming from the west that [b]The Naziim Caliphate[/b] is also now effectively under al'Selim's control, it is clear that the man, or at least the idea of him, has managed to unite a single Hijeen state under his control in a matter of months. 

[b][i][u]24th of January[/u][/i][/b]

The fleets of [b][color=2e3192]The Kingdom of Aontas[/color][/b] maneuver so that they create a stranglehold around the newly conquered coastline of [b][color=708090]The Kingdom of Ubren[/color][/b]. Intended to cut off trade, in truth, Ubren has had a coastline for such a short time that they are yet to develop any significant trade routes, but the fleets do serve to quickly cripple the burgeoning fishing industry. This is a clear sign of intent that Aontas intends to weigh in on the approaching conflict between Ubren and [b][color=00aeef]The Empire of Attolia[/color][/b]. It appears Aontas has not learnt it's lesson. 

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

The northern gunsmith of [b][color=2e3192]The Kingdom of Aontas[/color][/b], a man by the name of Georg Aaberg, receives extensive funding from the Kingdom itself, and the new design, nicknamed the 'Aaberg Musket', is quickly mass-produced, and distributed to the waiting hands of the Aontas military. By far the most advanced weapon of it's kind, it may well prove to be a very useful tool in the coming conflicts. 

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

The meeting of The European Trading League draws to a close. Faced with troubling times, the nations of [b][color=007236]The Three City's Republic of Ianian[/color][/b], [color=f26522][b]The Republic of Toubres[/b][/color], [b][color=39b54a]The Echyan Empire[/color][/b], and [b]The Republic of Oflua[/b] all enter into a Defensive Alliance, vowing to come to each others aid in times of war. [b]The Akkadian Empire[/b], that had quickly been becoming one of Ianian's closest allies, abstains from signing the new treaty, the influence of Majdi al-Selim coming into force for the first time.