[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]Summer of 1756[/h2][/center] [img]https://i.ibb.co/RyXVT7S/Labelled-Map-2-1.png[/img] [u][b][i]2nd of May[/i][/b][/u] With war looming on the horizon, the shipyards of [color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color] come to life. Under the close tutelage of [b]The Kingdom of Paranas[/b], the shipwrights of Khazaria have advanced leaps and bounds in recent years, and it is the coastal cities of the empire that have seen the greatest modernisation. Designs are drawn out for more than two dozen new Frigates for the empires navy, and work quickly gets underway. Although it will be months before any of these ships can set sail, it is still a clear sign of intent from Khazaria, as any increase in naval power puts them even more at odds with [color=#018c85][b]The Kingdom of Komentiolos[/b][/color] to the south. [b][i][u]5th of May[/u][/i][/b] The border between [b]The Kingdom of Stevata[/b] and [b][color=2e3192]The Kingdom of Dorist[/color][/b] is still a powder keg, and it quickly becomes clear that Dorist has no intentions of apologising for the civilian attacks along the border, or even taking responsibility. King Freud Thumer finally breaks the tense silence, and issues a declaration of his own. The Kingdom of Dorist is greatly offended by the accusation levied against them, and when this response reaches the Stevata capital of Ravoza, it causes outrage. The Stevata king is still a young man, but he is not naive. With a heavy heart, he gathers his most trusted advisors around him, and rumours quickly begin circling. War, the horseman of the apocalypse, has mounted it's fiery steed. [b][i][u]6th of May[/u][/i][/b] Before news of the declaration from [b][color=2e3192]The Kingdom of Dorist[/color][/b] can even spread across Europe, [color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color] seems to react. Perhaps it is a lucky coincidence, or perhaps the old trickster, Fate, has taken an interest in events. Whatever the reason, Khazaria echoes with the sound of marching feet as the empires armies prepare for war. A vast host marches west to the border with [b]The Kingdom of Stevata[/b], establishing a logistical headquarters as they prepare to cross the border and march to the aid of their ally. Rumours begin to swirl that none other than Alp Tarkhan marches at the head of this host, a near-mythical commander of men that embodies the wild savagery of the Khazarian tribes. Perhaps history will see this as a poetic irony, that it is a savage that leads the armies that Dorist has dubbed as 'uncivilised', but Alp has no time for poetry, and he will not waver from his task. [b][i][u]7th of May[/u][/i][/b] Even as soldiers of [color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color] march to the west, the empires young ruler is clearly still wary of the ancient enemy to the south, [color=#018c85][b]The Kingdom of Komentiolos[/b][/color]. Field guns are deployed along the already heavily fortified border between the two nations, and on a clear day, the two forces can glimpse each other across the border, seemingly locked in a standoff as both nations watch for the other to act. All the while, news continues to filter out from the border between [b]The Kingdom of Stevata[/b] and [b][color=2e3192]The Kingdom of Dorist[/color][/b]. All of Europe seems to be holding their breath as they wait for the seemingly inevitable, as the Royal Palace of Stevata continues to be a hive of frenzied activity. [b][i][u]9th of May[/u][/i][/b] "Cry 'Havoc!,' and let slip the dogs of war." With no choice before them, [b]The Kingdom of Stevata[/b] officially declares war against [b][color=2e3192]The Kingdom of Dorist[/color][/b]. Orders are quickly dispatched all across Stevata, and with their flanks largely protected, Stevata is free to bring the vast bulk of it's army to the border with Dorist. Although they do not cross the border yet, it quickly becomes clear that Stevata intends to reclaim their territory of Shardvul, a move that would seriously dent the morale of Dorist, as well as shrinking the border they need to defend. On the other side of the border, Dorist is also quick to prepare itself for war. [b][i][u]11th of May[/u][/i][/b] Even while other nation's of Europe march to war, [b][color=ed1c24]The Kingdom of Hispalis[/color][/b] continues to be more interested in strengthening their already impressive economy. To encourage the masses to make use of their still burgeoning stock exchange, Hispalis announces a series of loans and grants. The process of bringing the lower and middle class into this evolving economic structure is a slow one, but it is happening, and as the shadow of war continues to spread across the rest of Europe, there are already those who are being drawn to the shining light of Hispalis. [b][i][u]12th of May[/u][/i][/b] As war is made official between [b]The Kingdom of Stevata[/b] and [b][color=2e3192]The Kingdom of Dorist[/color][/b], more nations are drawn into the conflict. The first to announce their allegiance is [b]The Kingdom of Teclav[/b], unsurprisingly joining Stevata in declaring war against Dorist. The forces of Teclav that had already gathered on the Stevata border now cross into their allies territory, and begins the march towards Dorist. Few doubt that [color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color] will also lend it's strength Stevata, a considerable force of Khazaria gathered on the border already, but for Dorist, the landscape is looking more bleak. As rumours continue to swirl regarding the dark riders that attacked the civilians of Stevata, [b]The Kingdom of Altenten[/b] is noticeably hesitant in pledging it's support for Dorist. [b][i][u]14th of May[/u][/i][/b] Perhaps drawn to the growing strength of [b][color=ed1c24]The Kingdom of Hispalis[/color][/b], or perhaps simply looking for new allies, [color=#018c85][b]The Kingdom of Komentiolos[/b][/color] sends a delegation across the Mediterranean. The move is seen by many as a sign that Komentiolos is starting to turn it's attentions further afield. If ships of Komentiolos are to venture beyond the Mediterranean, then it certainly makes sense to curry favour with the gatekeepers. [b][i][u]17th of May[/u][/i][/b] Even as one diplomatic mission continues it's journey, [color=#018c85][b]The Kingdom of Komentiolos[/b][/color] does not rest idle. The youngest brother of King Nikolaos Andreas Koromelas II, Arcadius, has served well as ruler of the Komentiolos colony of Aegyptus, and he has been working to strengthen further the ties between Komentiolos and the colony. With his brother's blessing, Arcadius marries the daughter of the colonies most powerful noble family, Salma Al Sadat. The marriage is an important gesture, and Aegyptus is welcomed back into the fold, recognised as a part of the kingdom proper, rather than a colony. The news is tentatively accepted by most, largely the rich that will no doubt benefit from this move, but in the further reaches of the colony, there are discernible murmurings of discontent. [b][i][u]18th of May[/u][/i][/b] [b]The Kingdom of Fosbak[/b] officially expels the diplomats of [b]The Kingdom of Stevata[/b] and [b][color=2e3192]The Kingdom of Dorist[/color][/b]. Queen Marta condemns the war that has broken out between the two nations, vowing that Fosbak will play no part in the conflict, and issuing a stark warning towards any that might think of bringing war into the waters of Fosbak. With Fosbak controlling the straits, it quickly becomes apparent that the Baltic Sea is effectively sealed off. Neither Dorist or Stevata will see any aid arriving by sea, unless someone can present a convincing argument to the young queen. [b][i][u]20th of May[/u][/i][/b] Under the guidance of shipwrights from [color=BA55D3][b]The Republic of Kalseran[/b][/color], the shipyards of [b][color=ed1c24]The Kingdom of Hispalis[/color][/b] officially begin their work. Orders are officially placed for two Ships of the Line, and the craftsman take to their tasks with a relish. Although the ships will likely not set sail for months, it is still an important sign of the kingdom's intent of strengthening their naval power. With war already erupting in Europe, this news is greeted warmly by the people of Hispalis. Who knows how soon war could darken the kingdoms own shores? [b][i][u]22nd of May[/u][/i][/b] The Grand State Dinner of [b][color=2e3192]The Kingdom of Dorist[/color][/b] has morphed into something else entirely. The dinner was symbolically attended by [b]The Kingdom of Altenten[/b], [color=#018c85][b]The Kingdom of Komentiolos[/b][/color] and [color=BA55D3][b]The Republic of Kalseran[/b][/color], and signified the solidification of the burgeoning alliance between the four nations, but before any ink could be put to paper, war came. The dinner has now morphed into a thinly-veiled attempt by Dorist to convince the other nations to join them in war. Whether these attempts will be successful, still stands to be seen, but it is becoming increasingly crucial for Dorist to re-balance the scales that are quickly tilting against them. With [b]The Kingdom of Teclav[/b] and [color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color] already standing shoulder-to-shoulder, Dorist is in desperate need of friends. [b][i][u]23rd of May[/u][/i][/b] Even as their shipyards continue their work, [b][color=ed1c24]The Kingdom of Hispalis[/color][/b] also looks to strengthen their natural assets. The coastal defences and batteries that line the Strait of Gibraltar are largely outdated, some of them not having seen service since the conquest of Duarte. General Fernandez de Malaca is a man who hears music in the roar of cannon fire, and he takes to this task with a relish, modernising the existing defences as well as drawing out designs for new ones, the strait becoming a deadly maze of crossfire for any fleet that may attempt to pass through the strait without permission from Hispalis. The kingdom has long held the strategic position of the strait, and it is clear that they are not willing to relax that grip. [b][i][u]25th of May[/u][/i][/b] There have long been murmurings of discontent in the heart of [color=BA55D3][b]The Republic of Kalseran[/b][/color], powerful nobles who believe that the A'Dera family has held power for too long. Unsurprisingly, Luisa A'Dera is not willing to allow these murmurings to continue, and she has already begun work in the shadows to purge the rot before it can take root. Gathering the noble families before her, Luisa issues a stark warning, and it is quickly clear that Kalseran is a republic in name alone. To drive her point home, agents move in the shadows to attack the nobles where they are most vulnerable, their coin-purses. Sweeping new trade measures come in that chip away at the assets of the nobles, weakening their source of strength and funnelling more gold into the A'Dera families own purses. The action works to quell the moderate rebels, but it stokes a fire within the heart of the more extreme families, and the ones that are bold enough to risk the wrath of the A'Dera murmur even louder. [b][i][u]26th of May[/u][/i][/b] Wary of war, or perhaps simply looking for new trade avenues, [b][color=ed1c24]The Kingdom of Hispalis[/color][/b] sends out a diplomatic delegation. Led by the king's own brother, Philip, the delegation is ordered to travel to [color=800080][b]The Kingdom of Genstadt[/b][/color] and [b]The Kingdom of Fosbak[/b], looking to potentially establish a defensive coalition, or simply improve relations. Philip's wife, Kristien, is the sister of Queen Margriet, and it is clearly hoped that this well help to grease the wheels of diplomacy, but it seems as if the bird has flown before they even arrive. Rumours swirl of a letter sent from Queen Margriet to the east looking to cement a friendship with [b][color=2e3192]The Kingdom of Dorist[/color][/b]. If the rumours are true, then any attempt to align Hispalis with Genstadt could well drag Hispalis into war. Philip urgently writes back to his brother, requesting guidance before he presents any treaties to Genstadt, and before he pushes onto Fosbak. [b][i][u]27th of May[/u][/i][/b] Even with the threat of war almost literally at the gates, word begins to spread across [color=BA55D3][b]The Republic of Kalseran[/b][/color] of a festival, intended to celebrate the Republic, and the A'Dera family. Tensions in Europe are more volatile than ever, and the state dinner of [b][color=2e3192]The Kingdom of Dorist[/color][/b] that this festival was set to follow is quickly descending into a war council, so news of this festival is unexpected. Whether or not such a celebration goes ahead, the message is clear. It is the A'Dera family that is the strength behind the republic, and despite the discontent amongst some of the noble families, the A'Dera still wield the biggest stick. [b][i][u]29th of May[/u][/i][/b] The border between [color=#018c85][b]The Kingdom of Komentiolos[/b][/color] and [color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color] is teetering on the brink of outright war, but that tension is no longer limited simply to the border. Squadrons of Khazaria frigates set sail and begin to patrol the Black Sea like packs of wolves, watchful and wary of Komentiolos launching a naval action of their own. The shadow of war continues to spread, and it quickly becoming clear that this conflict is unlikely to sputter out, the great powers already whipping it into an inferno that threatens to consume all of Europe. [b][i][u]30th of May[/u][/i][/b] Following the relative success of their missionaries, [b][color=ed1c24]The Kingdom of Hispalis[/color][/b] looks to capitalise on it's gains. The missionaries continue their work of integrating the natives into the colony, but now they do it with a renewed purpose. These religious men are visionaries, and they see the task of bringing these savages into the light as their calling. With the backing of Hispalis behind them, the missionaries begin bringing the natives into the fold. The colonies influence continues to grow without a hitch, but while the natives that have witnessed the strength of Hispalis first-hand are keen to fall in line, there are still those deeper into Africa who still remember a time when the Caliphate looked down upon Hispalis. [b][i][u]31st of May[/u][/i][/b] [b]The Kingdom of Stevata[/b] and [b][color=2e3192]The Kingdom of Dorist[/color][/b] both boast formidable war machines, but they are war machines that are slow to fire. It is almost a month after the declaration of war before the two nations are ready for open battle, but now that they are ready, conflict seems inevitable. The Siege of Kronik, the bloody battle that saw Shardvul fall into Dorist hands, is still in living memory for the veterans of both armies, and both sides are looking for vengeance. With the armies of [b]The Kingdom of Teclav[/b] already marching to the aid of Stevata, and a formidable force of [color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color] also standing by, and the potential allies of Dorist still hesitating to commit, perhaps it is time for Dorist to draw first blood, while Stevata waits for it's own numbers to swell?