[b][/b][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 1756[/h2][/center]

[img]https://i.ibb.co/RyXVT7S/Labelled-Map-2-1.png[/img]

[u][b][i]7th of January[/i][/b][/u]

The tensions between [b][color=2e3192]The Kingdom of Dorist[/color][/b] and [b]The Kingdom of Stevata[/b] only continue to intensify. Like moths to the flame, other nations find themselves drawn to this seemingly inevitable conflict. Perhaps emboldened by their recent bond with [color=#018c85][b]The Kingdom of Komentiolos[/b][/color], persuaded by their neighbours to the north, or simply looking to settle old scores, few are surprised when [b]The Kingdom of Altenten[/b] begins moving it's own forces to the border with Stevata. But the development that will be most concerning to the Dorist ruler, King Freud, is the rumours that [color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color] is keeping a watchful eye over the developing tensions. There is no love lost between the nations of Dorist and Khazaria, and Khazaria enjoys a close relationship with Stevata. This re-ignition of old rivalries is already threatening to consume Europe, and other nations will no doubt have to decide which side of the line they stand on. 

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

The two nations of [color=87CEEB][b]The Empire of Grimhout[/b][/color] and [color=ed1c24][b]The Kingdom of Hispalis[/b][/color] have long fought a battle of influence over [b]The Kingdom of Arhan[/b], and that battle has only grown more furious as time has passed. Queen Ameline I has ruled capably since the death of her husband, King Michel IV, but she has not remarried, and the pair only sired one child. That child, Marie, has not only grown into a charming and graceful young lady, but she stands as the sole heir of Arhan. It is perhaps no accident then that both nations have recently sent delegates to the Queen's Royal Palace. The Empire of Grimhout has drawn first blood though, as their delegate was accompanied by the Empire's own heir, the dashing young Christophe, and he has already made his introduction to both the Queen and her daughter. The Hispalis heir remains in the capital of Toletum, although it would not be surprising if his own journey to Arhan was not being quickly arranged. 

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

The conflicts that are growing between the European nations are not limited to the continent, and far to the west, in the Americas, the tension between [color=87CEEB][b]The Empire of Grimhout[/b][/color] and [b]The Kingdom of Kehsi[/b] has spilled into their colonies. Grimhout sends a small fleet across the Atlantic, moving to re-enforce the already sizeable navy that currently resides in the empire's trading posts of the region. While it is not an outright move of an aggression, the Kehsi colonists are quickly uncomfortably aware of the fact that they are not outnumbered in the region, and that this shift of power does not bode well for Kehsi's own aspirations. 

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

Unsurprisingly, [b]The Kingdom of Kehsi[/b] send's it's own fleet towards the Americas, no doubt in a direct reaction to [color=87CEEB][b]The Empire of Grimhout[/b][/color]. This increasing of tension is made even worse as the news breaks that Kehsi has signed a treaty with [color=ed1c24][b]The Kingdom of Hispalis[/b][/color], including a defensive pact. Grimhout and Hispalis have long been rivals over [b]The Kingdom of Arhan[/b], but this symbolises the rivalry becoming something else entirely. Whether this treaty will prevent the outbreak of war, or whether it will instead accelerate it's arrival, still stands to be seen.

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

The fears of [b][color=2e3192]The Kingdom of Dorist[/color][/b] are fanned yet further, as [color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color] seemingly confirms it's support of [b]The Kingdom of Stevata[/b]. A caravan of gifts, escorted by Khazaria's finest riders, begins the journey to the Stevata capital of Ravoza, but perhaps more concerning are the rumours that quickly begin to swirl, rumours that Khazaria has begun moving forces to the empire's border with Stevata, perhaps preparing to re-enforce Stevata in the case of war. 

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

More nations continue to be drawn into the conflict. [b]The Kingdom of Stevata[/b] has few friends in Europe, but that does not mean that they are entirely without them. The treaty between Stevata and [b]The Kingdom of Teclav[/b] has long been considered the crowning achievement of the young King Oswald IV, and indeed it was one of his first actions after his father's sudden death. Teclav do not stand idle, and issue an official declaration that they will honour the treaty, and that Teclav men will march to defend Stevata territory is war does come to Europe. The two sides are finally poised, but some begin to believe that now they they face the combined strength of Stevata, Teclav and [color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color], it may be time for [b][color=2e3192]The Kingdom of Dorist[/color][/b] to start looking for more allies of their own.