[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]Summer of 1801[/h2][/center]

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

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

War is only an increasingly likely reality. Now, it is [b][color=2e3192]The Kingdom of Aontas[/color][/b] that is escalating the crisis. Sending scouts, and clearly having forgotten the catastrophic defeat they suffered just months before, Aontas begins to assess the northern coast of [b][color=708090]The Kingdom of Ubren[/color][/b], hunting for any weak points, with the apparent intention to make a landing. It appears that Aontas at least will honour it's alliance with [b][color=00aeef]The Empire of Attolia[/color][/b], already seeming to prepare for the war to come. 

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

[color=f26522][b]The Republic of Toubres[/b][/color] is not lying idle. Wary that the sudden colonial expansion of [b]The Echyan Empire[/b] may have caught them unaware, the Republic is keen to restore the balance. And sure enough, a colonial fleet embarks from Toubrian Trienz, itself only recently established, and the colony of Toubrian Rintes is born. Although the new territories, and the riches of the land, are clearly appreciated, there are many who think that it is the next move that will decide the victor of the colonization race. 

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

The Second Siege of Ziva drags on, and there is no end in sight. The attempts by [b]The Kingdom of Claidor[/b] to support their forces are constantly harassed and impeded by raiding parties of [b]The Kingdom of Vendsyssel.[/b] While [color=0054a6][b]The Empire of Rubrus[/b][/color] remains still, Claidor is outnumbered and outmaneuvered. 

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

The day will be notorious for years to come. On what comes to be known as the 'Market Day Massacre', hundreds of [b][color=00aeef]The Empire of Attolia[/color][/b] citizens are massacred, chiefly the traders that have been dealing illicit items into the markets of [b]The Shuren Dynasty[/b]. These traders, as well as the Shuren smugglers that have been spreading their dark merchandise, are dragged from their beds and slaughtered in the streets like dogs. The attacks are organised, and brutally efficient. The black market of Fort Tian is effectively wiped out in one fell swoop. Now, it is up to Attolia to respond to this catastrophic event, as news slowly filters back to the Empire's homeland. 

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

A Court of Audit is formed in [b][color=00aeef]The Empire of Attolia[/color][/b], born from the increasingly concerning drain that government, and public, spending has been on the national budget. It will take some time for the Court to be able to prove it's worth, but they take to their work industriously, and some attempt at least is being made to tackle the burden of wasteful and questionable spending. 

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

Keen to continue their preparations for war, [b][color=2e3192]The Kingdom of Aontas[/color][/b] turns their factories and industry to the task of mass-producing the 'Aaberg Musket'. As soon as they are created, the weapons are distributed, thrust into the hands of the Aontas Marines, who's ranks have been steadily swelling over the last months. It is clear how Aontas plans to bring its forces to bear, but it stands to be seen just how effective their strategy will be. 

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

Perhaps concerned by the growing threat of war in Europe, or perhaps simply looking to extend their own power, [b][color=007236]The Three City's Republic of Ianian[/color][/b] extends an invitation to join the European Trading League to [b]The Holy Territories of Edoniras[/b]. The Pope, no doubt his decision helped due to his close relationship with [color=f26522][b]The Republic of Toubres[/b][/color], already a European Trading League member, agrees to this invitation. However, on the same day, word reaches Ianian that [b]The Akkadian Empire[/b] has withdrawn itself from the Trading League, no doubt decided by the dominant influence of Majdi al-Selim. 

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

The increasingly serious civil disturbances across [b][color=00aeef]The Empire of Attolia[/color][/b] province of Belgae continue. Support for [b][color=708090]The Kingdom of Ubren[/color][/b] continues to grow, escalating as the Emperor himself tours the province. As the Emperors procession moves through the city of Aviyonne, a figure breaks from the crowd, a flintlock pistol in their hand as they charge towards the Emperor himself. By sheer chance, the weapon misfires, and the would-be assassin is gunned down as the Emperor is rushed ot safety. The province is a tinder box, primed to erupt into flames at the first spark, and this attempted killing causes riots all across the province that rage for days. 

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

Continuing to expand it's dominance in the region, while [b][color=2e3192]The Kingdom of Aontas[/color][/b] has it's attention turned away from colonial expansion, [color=f26522][b]The Republic of Toubres[/b][/color] expands north from it's new colony of Toubrian Leviz. The already extensive Western Territories of Toubres grows yet again, as the colony of Budel is formed. Although the frozen north does not boast the same natural riches that other colonies possess, it is essential strategic territory, and it only further strengthens the Republic's position. 

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

Not content with allowing [color=f26522][b]The Republic of Toubres[/b][/color] to be the only nation colonizing the far-flung corners of the world, [b][color=007236]The Three City's Republic of Ianian[/color][/b] sends a colonial party from Tilandia, successfully strengthening their hold in the Far East. Renaming the colony formerly known as Tilandia to become North Tilandia, the new colony is dubbed South Tilandia. With the increasingly bold actions of [b]The Shuren Dynasty[/b], these colonies may soon find themselves tested.