[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] [b][i][u]2nd of June[/u][/i][/b] The drums of war beat ever louder. The war between [b]The Kingdom of Stevata[/b] and [b][color=2e3192]The Kingdom of Dorist[/color][/b] escalates even further as more nations join the fray. In a move that takes few by surprise, [color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color] officially declares war against Dorist, it's army already gathering on the Stevata border. Honouring their defensive alliance, [b]The Kingdom of Altenten[/b] joins Dorist, declaring war against Khazaria, Stevata and [b]The Kingdom of Teclav[/b]. The State Dinner of Dorist also proves to have been fruitful, as [color=BA55D3][b]The Republic of Kalseran[/b][/color] joins the war as well, pledging to provide supplies to the hungry war machine of Dorist. [color=800080][b]The Kingdom of Genstadt[/b][/color] also draws up a treaty to allow Dorist trade to continue flowing as [b]The Kingdom of FOsbak[/b] all but seal the Baltic Sea. For Dorist, the scales are looking considerably less desolate, but their attempts to see [color=#018c85][b]The Kingdom of Komentiolos[/b][/color] join their cause is unsuccessful, at least for now. With armies amassing across Europe, few doubt that first blood will be shed sooner rather than later. [b][i][u]4th of June[/u][/i][/b] Although they are yet to officially join the growing war, [color=#018c85][b]The Kingdom of Komentiolos[/b][/color] are certainly not resting upon their laurels. Tension along the border with [color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color] only continues to increase, and Komentiolos is making no attempt to cool them. Yet more troops are deployed along the heavily fortified border, but it is in the waters of the Black Sea that the most action is seen. As the shipyards of Komentiolos begin work on new frigates and sloops to swell the kingdoms navy, ships are brought up from the south to further re-enforce the Komentiolos presence in the highly contested waters. Privateers are issued with a letter of marquee that instructs them to raid Khazaria trade, and the promise of gold sees several ships flock to the offer. The squadrons of Khazaria frigates that are patrolling the Black Sea make raiding a difficult task however, and there are a string of skirmishes. Although the privateers do not fly the Komentiolos flag, Khazaria is under no illusions, and the tension between the two nations continues to escalate, building quickly towards the inevitable conclusion. [b][i][u]5th of June[/u][/i][/b] Following the clear declaration of neutrality issued by [b]The Kingdom of Fosbak[/b], many assumed that the historical allies of Fosbak, [b]The Kingdom of Orvag[/b], would follow suit. The two nations have long been the naval powers in the Baltic Sea, but King Valterri IV is an old and bitter man, and he is loathe to meekly follow the actions of a queen young enough to be his daughter. The shipyards of Orvag begin work on new ships for the Orvag navy, and rumours quickly begin to swirl. These new ships could simply be an effort to protect Orvag from the collateral damage of war, but some are already speculating that Orvag could be dragged into the war itself, even if only to spite Fosbak and it's young queen. Whatever the reasoning, this development will no doubt have caught the attention of [b]The Kingdom of Stevata[/b] and [b][color=2e3192]The Kingdom of Dorist[/color][/b]. [b][i][u]7th of June[/u][/i][/b] Even though they are yet to act upon it, the declaration of war by [color=BA55D3][b]The Republic of Kalseran[/b][/color] has sent shock-waves throughout the republic, and several of the noble families finally reach a breaking point. With their personal fortunes being stripped away by rigid new trade regulations, and now with their homeland dragged into a war that it seemingly has no ties to, these nobles openly curse the A'Dera family. Power has seemingly languished too long with one family, and it is becoming increasingly clear, at least to these nobles, that the 'Grand Lady of the Republic' is an A'Dera first, and a member of the republic second. Perhaps buoyed by their relative distance from the seat of the A'Dera power in the capital, or perhaps already on edge due to the rising tensions just beyond their waters, it is the noble families of Helensa that act first. In a symbolic act, the Kalseran flag that flies above the main docks is torn down, and the tax-collectors of the A'Dera are dragged from their beds. The garrison of the province is quickly mobilised, but by the time they are brought to bear, the nobles dissapear into the shadows again. In a moment that is already passing into folklore, it is the coastal city of Stenias that witnesses what comes to be known as 'The Skirmish at Toleas Manor'. Soldiers of the republic attempted to storm the impressive townhouse of a powerful noble family, and conflict broke out between these soldiers and the private guards of the nobles. The skirmish was short, but it left half a dozen men dead on both sides, and signalled the first of a number of such skirmishes all across the province. [b][i][u]9th of June[/u][/i][/b] In the north of Helensa, in the area surrounding the provincial capital of Palysos, an uneasy sense of order is still maintained, but in the southern cities, control has well and truly been wrested away from [color=BA55D3][b]The Republic of Kalseran[/b][/color]. The nobles have whipped the common folk into a fervour, accusing A'Dera of corruption, of plunging Kalseran into a war for their own selfish purposes. The garrisons of these cities are drafted from the local population, and it is difficult to convince soldiers to fire upon the enemy when the enemy are brothers and sisters. It is only the more experienced soldiers of the republic's army proper that holds it's nerve, but they have almost entirely retreated to the provincial capital. A string of desperate messages are sent to the other provinces of the republic, and it quickly becomes clear that Kalseran needs to act, and act quickly. The republic's nose has been bloodied, and that means the A'Dera nose has been bloodied. Any hesitation or indecisiveness could be seen as weakness, and lead even more of the republic into open rebellion. [b][i][u]12th of June[/u][/i][/b] Far away from the growing conflict that is threatening to engulf, a fairly unassuming group of ships is slowly making its way east. The journey ahead of the settlers is a daunting one, but they carry with them the ambitions of [b][color=ed1c24]The Kingdom of Hispalis[/color][/b]. For some time, Hispalis has been looking to expand it's territory beyond Europe and North Africa, and the relatively un-plundered riches of the East Indies present an opportunity that is too good to be ignored. Yet the journey to the East Indies is a gruelling one, and for now, Hispalis seem content with turning their attentions closer to home. The ships of the kingdom instead sail south, along the west coast of Africa, with the intention of establishing a trading post. The coastline of Africa is still little explored, so it may take some time for the sailors to find a suitable site, but they are determined, and there are plenty of traders that would appreciate a safe harbour for the long journey east. [b][i][u]13th of June[/u][/i][/b] The State Dinner of [b][color=2e3192]The Kingdom of Dorist[/color][/b] officially draws to a close, although in truth it has been finished in all but name since the official declaration of war between Dorist and [b]The Kingdom of Stevata[/b]. The respective leaders and diplomats have returned to their homelands, and the Dorist capital, Talfist, would be almost quiet, were it not for the frenzied war preparation. Rumours run rife, the most extreme claim that even now, the armies of Stevata are burning and pillaging their way across the province of Shardvul. The population of the capital believe that Dorist can triumph in the coming battles, but news of the amassing armies of [b]The Kingdom of Teclav[/b] and [color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color] strikes fear into even the most patriotic heart. Blood will soak the earth of Europe before this war is done, and Dorist will inevitably have to pay it's share. [b][i][u]15th of June[/u][/i][/b] With the recent diplomatic delegation making the short journey between the two nations, there are many who tentatively believed that tensions before [b]The Kingdom of Kehsi[/b] and [color=87CEEB][b]The Empire of Grimhout[/b][/color] were cooling, but whatever discussions are being had behind closed doors in the Kehsi capital of Sabica, no treaties are yet to emerge. Across the Atlantic, in the colonies of the Americas, the mood between the two nations continues to sour. Grimhout has long held sway on the continent proper, while Kehsi is content with the islands, an uneasy understanding existing between the two. But the influx of new ships from both nations has shifted the balance of power. Ships of Grimhout are sent west, along the coastline. With the guidance of a handful of paid locals, these ships begin to establish a new settlement, strengthening their hold on the continent, and almost goading Kehsi to challenge them. [b][i][u]16th of June[/u][/i][/b] The soldiers along the border of [b][color=2e3192]The Kingdom of Dorist[/color][/b] have been bracing themselves for weeks, preparing for what they see as the inevitable advance of the [b]The Kingdom of Stevata[/b], but there has been nothing. As dawn breaks, all of this changes. The uneasy silence is broken by the thunder of hooves, and a vast horde of riders appears on the horizon. But it is not the flag of Stevata the flutters in the morning breeze, it is the standard of [color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color]. Alp Tarkhan is not a man who understands the meaning of patience, and ever since the outbreak of war, he has pushed his host forwards. Crossing the territory of Stevata, it is the horseman of the east that form the spearhead of Stevata's assault. Much of the Dorist army in Shardvul has been withdrawn to the cities, preparing for a traditional siege, but the rearguard remains to delay the advance of the enemy. Expecting the Stevata army, the Dorist forces is unprepared for the massed cavalry of Khazaria, and with Alp leading from the front, Khazaria shatters the rearguard, running down those who try and flee. First blood has been drawn by Khazaria, and with the line broken, the combined forces of Khazaria and Stevata flock into the province of Shardvul, as the remaining Dorist brace themselves behind city walls. [b][i][u]19th of June[/u][/i][/b] Perhaps it is something in the air, for tensions continue to rise all across Europe. The uneasy peace between [b]The Kingdom of Arhan[/b] and [b]The Empire of Reria[/b] is more strained than ever, and rumours are already beginning to leak out concerning the cause. Lord Favre, a name still only mentioned in hushed whispers, hails from the southern province of Colveil, as did the other nobles named in the plot. There are some who believe that Reria was pulling the strings behind the apparently foiled rebellion, and that the ageing Emperor Clarenzio III was the true power behind Lord Favre. Whatever the reason, relations between the two nations has still soured, the two fleets regularly testing each other's limits. Reria is not focused entirely on their neighbours to the north however, and a handful of ships are sent to the south. The empire has long had cultural ties with the people of North Africa, and it quickly becomes clear that they are looking to establish a colony. The move immediately puts them at odds with the presence of [b][color=ed1c24]The Kingdom of Hispalis[/color][/b] already established in the area, but Reria seems largely unphased by this. [b][i][u]21st of June[/u][/i][/b] Alp Tarkhan is a bandit, a savage, and with the strength of [color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color] at his back, he is doing what he does best. The province of Shardvul boasts a formidable garrison, more than forty thousand soldiers, but they have been ordered to retreat to the provincial capital of Kronik, leaving vast swathes of the province virtually undefended. The cavalry of Khazaria cuts through the province like a spear thrust, effectively severing a large part of the province away from the rest of [b][color=2e3192]The Kingdom of Dorist[/color][/b]. The city of Halldorf, already only defended by less than a thousand men, is cut off from re-enforcement's overnight. Alp has little interest in taking cities, so he instead occupies himself with chasing the straggling remains of the Dorist army that are yet to retreat to the relative safety of the capital. It is the soldiers of [b]The Kingdom of Stevata[/b] that besiege the Halldorf, but in truth, it could hardly be called a siege. Cut off, poorly garrisoned and seemingly abandoned by the main Dorist army, the soldiers who have been tasked with holding the city already have low morale. Faced with overwhelming numbers, and quickly realising that the population of the city are largely Stevata descendants, the city surrenders before dusk. [b][i][u]22nd of June[/u][/i][/b] Even while [color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color] wages war further west than the hordes have ever reached, it would be a mistake to believe that the empire had forgotten far more familiar battle grounds. While the border between Khazaria and [color=#018c85][b]The Kingdom of Komentiolos[/b][/color] continues to balance on a knife edge, the waters between the two ambitious nations has quickly become a second front. While the privateers of Komentiolos continue to harass trade ships in the Black Sea, the frigates of Khazaria do not sit by and watch, even as the ships of Komentiolos continue to show their own strength with patrols. The navy is perhaps the closest tie between Khazaria and [b]The Kingdom of Paranas[/b], the alliance with Paranas transforming the rag-tag fleet of glorified fishing vessels into a fairly formidable naval force, and this force is put to the test as a frantic game of cat and mouse breaks out. Privateer pursues trader, and then in turn, cruisers pursue privateers. The tension between Khazaria and Komentiolos has always been high, and with the drums of war already beating elsewhere, it seems as if it is only a matter of time before old rivalries bleed fresh. [b][i][u]24th of June[/u][/i][/b] The unrest in Helensa has continued, the soldiers of [color=BA55D3][b]The Republic of Kalseran[/b][/color] seemingly unsure of how to respond to the rebellion that has gripped the southern regions of the province. The nobles have effectively seized control of the coastal cities, driving out those sympathetic to the A'Dera family, and enforcing their own law and order. As this breakaway republic emerges, there are many other nobles that are casting their eyes south. The A'Dera family has long since ruled with an iron fist and a velvet glove, but the glove has been wearing thin of late, and there are many powerful families that are all too welcome to the idea of ruling the roost yet again. [b][i][u]27th of June[/u][/i][/b] The cavalry of [color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color] continues to terrorise the province of Shardvul, but it is the massed infantry of Khazaria and [b]The Kingdom of Stevata[/b] that is making the greatest gains. Halldorf has already fallen, and with a meagre garrison, the city of Genlor quickly follows suit. The only foothold that [b][color=2e3192]The Kingdom of Dorist[/color][/b] still holds in the province is the capital of Kronik, but Kronik is unlikely to be as soft as Halldorf and Genlor. Not only do forty thousand men of the Dorist army hold the city, seven regiments of those men are highly trained and fiercely loyal members of the Royal Guard. Yet the greatest weapon in the Dorist defence is a single man, General Wolfgang Draton. Wolfgang is the brutal reality of war, a veteran of endless conflicts, and he is a highly effective leader of men. Not only that, but Wolfgang was there when Kronik fell to Dorist two decades ago, and he knows better than anyone what it takes to break the city, and what it takes to hold it. And yet still the enemy come. The combined forces of Khazaria and Stevata begin the siege of the city, the roar of guns becoming almost a constant background. [b][i][u]28th of June[/u][/i][/b] While war has truly broken out between [b][color=2e3192]The Kingdom of Dorist[/color][/b] and [b]The Kingdom of Stevata[/b], the conflict between Stevata and [b]The Kingdom of Altenten[/b] is more luke-warm. Both nations seem tentative of making the first move, and both seem content to simple watch each other across their short border. There is no love lost between the two nations, but rumours continue to swirl about the true cause of the war, and with the only other ally of Dorist, [color=BA55D3][b]The Republic of Kalseran[/b][/color], struggling with a rebellion, Altenten is wary of committing to a war in which it is already outnumbered. The older generations of Altenten still remember the dark days of the Siege of Velerra, and bay for Stevata blood, calling for King Leonard II to honour the defensive treaty, but the younger generation is less eager to be dragged into a bloody war. For now, the border is almost eerily quiet. [b][i][u]29th of June[/u][/i][/b] While the forces in Kronik dig in, there is still a glimmer of hope. Another army of [b][color=2e3192]The Kingdom of Dorist[/color][/b] has gathered to the west of Shardvul, commanded by the dashing and charismatic General Albert Riechsand. As the forces of [b]The Kingdom of Stevata[/b] and [color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color] continue to seize the territory of Shardvul, all but cutting off Kronik from supplies, this army begins to march east. Splitting into two, this fresh army begins to push into Shardvul itself, encircling the very army that is in turn encircling Kronik. A series of skirmishes break out all across the advance, but the men of Dorist are hardened soldiers, and they continue to push. The cavalry of Khazaria, with Alp at it's head, take to this new threat with relish, overjoyed to finally face an army on open ground, and they begin a series of hit and run rains against the advancing forces. Progress is made though, slow and bloody, but progress nonetheless.