[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 1757[/h2][/center]

[img]https://i.ibb.co/nmG6kQB/Labelled-Map-1-1.png[/img]

[b][u]2nd of February[/u][/b]

It is clear that for all the impressive strides that it has already made, the Western Alliance still has grand ambitions. After all, the alliance commands territory on no less than four continents, and while other nations of Europe are consumed by war, this grand alliance looks beyond. The trading port of [b]The Kingdom of Hispalis[/b], Fort Avirias, has already proven bountiful, offering a safe haven for the trade ships destined for the long journey around the Cape of Good Hope, and opening the east up for yet more plundering of it's riches. Seeing the success of Fort Avirias, the members of the Western Alliance, [color=87CEEB][b]The Empire of Grimhout[/b][/color] foremost among them, urge Hispalis to push on, establishing another trading port to the south, forging another stepping stone for those ships that travel east, carrying intrepid and bright-eyed traders, and the first glimpse of home for the ships that return west, laden with riches. Hispalis agrees to the project, and word is sent to Fort Avirias to prepare another expedition. Slowly but surely, the reach of Europe, or rather, of the Western Alliance, continues to spread. 

[b][u]4th of February[/u][/b]

While the nobility of [b]The Kingdom of Altenten[/b] has shifted, manipulated by Philip Lehner, the people of Altenten have kept a watchful and wary eye on their borders. To the north, [b]The Kingdom of Dorist[/b] has undergone an upheaval of their own, the ragged remains of the army reducing King Freud into a mere puppet after it's bloody defeat at the hand of it's enemies to the east. To the west, [b]The Principality of Asmont[/b] has aligned itself with the growing strength of the Western Alliance, and it can now call upon powerful friends. Meanwhile, [color=BA55D3][b]The Republic of Kalseran[/b][/color] to the south has joined in war against [color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color], standing in open conflict with Altenten's eastern neighbours, [b]The Kingdom of Paranas[/b]. Just as Philip Lehner looks to exploit this precarious position, it has caused a feeling of unease to settle among the common people. Unease all too often breeds unrest, and as rumours begin to spread throughout the kingdom, the nobility would be wise to bend their ear. Rumours begin to paint Khazaria as not only savage invaders, but also telling of the great riches that the horse-lords possess. These rumours are dismissed as fantastical by those few that have ventured to the east, but they still capture the hearts of the common folk, and before long, men in taverns are telling grand tales of the fields of gold that Khazaria horde for themselves, and the savagery of these nomads and bandits that threaten destruction to the rest of Europe. The same language was used by Dorist, and that is not surprising, the two nations sharing common ancestors after all, but any lessons that Dorist have learnt from their defeat at the hands of Khazaria are yet to bleed through to their cousins to the south. It will not be long before Altenten bays for blood once more.  

[b][u]5th of February[/u][/b] 

In the months since Silvio Luciani journeyed to the city of Kalseran, [color=BA55D3][b]The Republic of Kalseran[/b][/color] has not sat idle. The Luciani Ratio is a breakthrough in it's own right, and making use of the research that their new allies [b]The Empire of Reria[/b] have already carried out on the ratio, fresh supplies of gunpowder are distributed all along the republic's stretched defensive lines. Perhaps it will still not be enough to weather the incoming storm of the greater numbers that [color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color] can bring to bear, but this new gunpowder is a potent mix, and in the brutal confines of all out war, every advantage is precious. The artillerymen of the republic are already visibly excited by this new ratio, and the massed cannons that Kalseran boast have become even more of a thorn in Khazaria's side. When the seemingly inevitable assault does come, neither side will emerge unbloodied. 

[b][u]6th of February[/u][/b]

Even as preparation's are made for war, death does not have an unchallenged hold over [color=BA55D3][b]The Republic of Kalseran[/b][/color]. Another child is born to the brother of the Grand Lady of the Republic, and although the babe cannot hope to comprehend it, the birth of Vincenzo A'Dera is a timely reminder of the bond that exists between the ruling families of Kalseran and [b]The Empire of Reria[/b]. Even now, soldiers of the empire stand shoulder to shoulder with those of the republic, and ships of the two great naval powers sail together against the enemy to the east. It may have been forged from a shared need, but the alliance between Kalseran, Reria and [color=#018c85][b]The Kingdom of Komentiolos[/b][/color] has survived it's first great challenge. And yet none of the nations are taking a moment to rest on their laurels, as they are all too aware that [color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color] and it's own allies will test that bond once again. 

[b][u]9th of February[/u][/b]

When the massed cavalry of [color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color] broke through the lines of [color=#018c85][b]The Kingdom of Komentiolos[/b][/color] at the Battle of Drarama, leaving Alp Tarkhan free to strike at the very heart of the Komentiolos army, there were many the believed the war had been worn. Even in the court of Komentiolos, there were hushed whispers calling for peace, as the bedraggled survivors fled for the relative safety of the coast, and yet when the harsh winter descended, the war machine of Khazaria ground to a halt, and Komentiolos was given precious time. Since then, thousands of fresh souls have been sent to the front lines, defences prepared, commanders reassigned, and the face of the war has changed. Komentiolos now boasts a truly formidable army along it's narrow foothold, conscripts drafted into legions of old, an entire nation committed totally to war, while Khazaria has turned it's attention away from this growing strength, and seems intent on instead challenging the more sparsely defended lines of [color=BA55D3][b]The Republic of Kalseran[/b][/color] to the west, leaving the soldiers of [b]The Kingdom of Stevata[/b] and [b]The Kingdom of Teclav[/b] to occupy the forces of Komentiolos. Yet for now, all armies seem content to wait behind their earthen fortifications, warily watching the enemy to make the first move. It is in the Black Sea where the most decisive actions are taking place, the combined fleet of Kalseran and [b]The Empire of Reria[/b] attempt to make use of their superiority, and yet struggling to crack the hardened defences of Khazaria's fortified harbours. Through all of this, the rest of Europe can only watch on, waiting for the decisive moment that will once again tip the balance one way or the other. Legends are already being written, but for the man that finally breaks the deadlock, his name will echo through eternity. 

[b][u]10th of February[/u][/b]

Like waves against the shore, the fleet of [color=BA55D3][b]The Republic of Kalseran[/b][/color] and [b]The Empire of Reria[/b] continues to throw itself against the coast of [color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color]. With soldiers of [b]The Kingdom of Teclav[/b] standing shoulder to shoulder with the newly raised soldiers of Khazaria, the harbours of Khazaria still prove a prize too bloody for the taste of Admiral Iraklis Roberto. Buoyed by their success in holding back the formidable fleet that stands against them, Khazaria look to use the anger of those left beyond the safety of the harbours. While the young, the old and the women are ushered to sanctuary inland, the fishermen, and others that call the shoreline their home, are drafted into Khazaria's armies. Through all of this, the harbours continue to be fortified, more cannons dragged into position, and the guns of the surviving ships of Khazaria brought to bear. Perhaps there was a time where Khazaria would have looked ot sail out and meet the fleet of the enemy, but as the ships of Kalseran and Reria continue to bring ruin to the coastline, the harbours remain defiant, and if the harbours do not fall, then Khazaria does not fall. Soon there will come a time when Admiral Iraklis needs to make a decision, to call off the raids and prepare for another day, or to pay the blood price, and throw all of his strength against the harbours of Khazaria. 

[b][u]11th of February[/u][/b]

Prince Christophe is called back to [color=87CEEB][b]The Empire of Grimhout[/b][/color], but when he embarks on the journey homewards, he does not travel alone. On the personal invitation of Christophe's father, Arch-Duke Jean-Baptise Dervau, Princess Marie, the sole heir to [b]The Kingdom of Arhan[/b], travels north. The pair have quickly grown fond of each other, and few doubt that this official invitation is a chance for the Arch-Duke to officially bless the two young lovers. The significance of the match is lost on no-one, the bonding of two dynasties by direct lines, and signalling the forging of a single kingdom from two. The news is largely greeted warmly by the people of both nations. Both young heirs are well-liked in their own nations, and this pairing represents a master-stroke of diplomacy. If an engagement does emerge, then Arch-Duke Jean-Baptiste Dervaux will have married both of his children into the royal families of his neighbours, not only strengthening his own position, but also the position of the empire, and the position of the Western Alliance. 

[b][u]12th of February[/u][/b]

It is [color=BA55D3][b]The Republic of Kalseran[/b][/color] that responds to the offer of [b]The Kingdom of Altenten[/b] first. Diplomats frantically rush between the capitals of Kalseran and Etterselt, dark deals struck in the shadows, grand promises made, and from the chaos of it all, an agreement seems to emerge. The offer sent to [b]The Kingdom of Paranas[/b] remains unanswered, and as Altenten seems to draw ever closer towards siding with the republic and it's allies, perhaps the balance does begin to tip. In as many years, Altenten has been drawn into two wars, and as armies are once again raised, there are many who will be watching the kingdom with a wary eye, to see if those armies do march to war. The one thorn in the side of the ambitious Philip Lehner is the bond of marriage that links the royal families of Altenten and Paranas, and yet for a man that is driven by his own desires, this bond means little to Philip. Perhaps it would have been enough to dissuade King Leonard II, but the old king is dead, and King Niklas IV does not share the same sentimentality of his father, or at least he is carefully managed to ensure that he does not. Even when the kings uncle, Jakob, tries to implore for peace on behalf of his wife's family, he is blocked at every turn. As the days pass, it seems increasingly likely that Altenten will march to war, whipped into a fervour by the ambition of the true power behind the throne, and the growing disdain of [color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color] from Altenten's people. 

[b][u]14th of February[/u][/b]

The tensions in the province of Aegyptus have only continued to escalate, the deserts becoming increasingly wild as the influence of [color=#018c85][b]The Kingdom of Komentiolos[/b][/color] is beaten further and further back. And yet, there is the feeling of change in the air, and as dawn breaks, dark ships slip into the Aegyptus harbour. Relieved of his command at the line with [color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color], General Marcian Augustus has arrived in Aegyptus, and he comes with more than fifty thousand soldiers at his back. Marcian has long been a man jaded by war, and his bloody defeat at the hands of Khazaria have only hardened his heart further. He has orders to quell the rebellion at whatever cost, and he takes to that task with a ruthless vindictiveness. The soldiers under his command are a mix of veterans of those same defeats, or conscripts recently called to service, and they follow Marcian's orders for their own reasons. The veterans have the same jaded view as their commander, and for the conscripts, their thuggery is encouraged, the rebels dehumanised to the point that these soldiers see them as little more than dogs. Entire villages are burnt to the ground, every man, woman and child slaughtered where they stand, and their ashen corpses used as warnings to those that would rise up against Komentiolos. The sheer violence of this butchery turns the stomachs of the nobles, and even Arcadius questions the brutality of his brother's orders, although only to his most trusted friends. Whole swathes of the province eradicated and then set ablaze with a ruthless efficiency, and although many of the rebels are killed, so are countless other innocent souls. The borders are closed with an iron fist, the harbours reduced to military ports, with all incoming trade ships seized and thoroughly inspected. Because of this, the sheer bloodshed that Aegyptus has suffered will not be known to the rest of Europe, or even the rest of Komentiolos, for months, the few stragglers that able to escape the vice dismissed as madmen. And yet it is not the only sign that Komentiolos has drastically shifted it's tone. Decrees are issued all across the kingdom that retreat and surrender will no longer be tolerated. Another loss to Khazaria cannot be allowed, no matter how high the cost. The conscripts that continue to flood across the narrow strait are little more than farmers and labourers, but it is quickly made clear that any desertion or cowardice will be met with severe retribution, with men crucified, or stoned to death. These decrees are archaic, relics from a forgotten age, yet the message is clear. The line has been drawn in the sand, and no matter what comes, Komentiolos will retreat no further, even if it bleeds the kingdom dry, and drags its people into hell itself. 

[b][u]16th of February[/u][/b]

The Emperor of the Viswan Empire is dead. Shah Miran is found murdered in his own bedchamber, and in the chaos that follows, the Emperor's first-born son, Shah Jafar, the heir to the empire, is arrested as his murderer. And yet beyond the imperial court, accusations are firmly levelled against the emperors second son, the cunning and ruthless Shah Mal. As the imperial palace continues to be rocked by the scandal, Shah Mal is quick to crown himself as the new emperor, and all across the great empire, local princes forsake their loyalty, and forge their own kingdoms. Several of these new kingdoms swear their fealty to the banished Shah Jafar, while others have loyalty only for their own ambitions. The Viswan Empire has fallen, and while Shah Mal still clings to a formidable kingdom, the empire is a crumbling ruin of it's former might, and as news continues to spread, the eyes of the European powers in the region will be all too aware of the sudden power vacuum in the region. The ambitions of those that serve under the flag of [color=BA55D3][b]The Republic of Kalseran[/b][/color], [b]The Kingdom of Kehsi[/b] and [color=87CEEB][b]The Empire of Grimhout[/b][/color] are not to be underestimated, and as civil war begins to break out between these newly formed kingdoms, rich opportunities may soon present themselves. 

[b][u]19th of February[/u][/b] 

While [b]The Kingdom of Altenten[/b] seems determined to look beyond their own borders, to the north, [b]The Kingdom of Dorist[/b] is still nursing it's wounds. The loss of the province of SHardvul has left a bloody wound in the kingdom's side, and while Altenten bays for war, Dorist has focused on it's people. General Albert Riechsand still serves as the true power in the kingdom, and the dashing cavalrymen is attempting to repair the damage wrecked by King Freud. Although the change is barely discernible to all but those who are watching most keenly, the attentions of Dorist have shifted to the west. The trade with [b]The Kingdom of Genstadt[/b] has proven crucial to the survival of Dorist, and with the formation of the Western Alliance, the ports of Dorist now find themselves trading with half a dozen more nations, through the suggestion of Genstadt. Although it is a wounded beast, the army of Dorist is still a truly formidable one, their loss to [b]The Kingdom of Stevata[/b] largely attributed to the woeful leadership of their king, and if Dorist becomes the next nation to succumb to the honeyed words of peace from [color=87CEEB][b]The Empire of Grimhout[/b][/color], then the Western Alliance will truly become a power that the rest of Europe cannot safely ignore. 

[b][u]20th of February[/u][/b]

Princess Marie has only been a personal guest of Arch-Duke Jean-Baptiste Dervaux for a few days before her pairing with Prince Christophe is blessed by his father. The heir of [b]The Kingdom of Arhan[/b] is a charming and beautiful young woman, and before long, the entire court of [color=87CEEB][b]The Empire of Grimhout[/b][/color] is enamoured with her. At a grand ball, held in the honour of both Princess Marie, and the treaty of alliance signed by her mother, the engagement between Marie and Christophe is officially announced. The two proud dynasties will be united through marriage, and preparations are quickly begun for a ceremony grand enough to represent the significance of this marriage. The lovers will attend two ceremonies, the first in Rivierberg, and the second in Cappes, bringing together the great and the good of both nations in celebration. 

[b][u]21st of February[/u][/b]

Despite the tensions between the two nations continuing to escalate, the line between [color=BA55D3][b]The Republic of Kalseran[/b][/color] and [color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color] has stagnated, for now. Perhaps it is the possible intervention from [b]The Kingdom of Altenten[/b], or perhaps the growing strength of [color=#018c85][b]The Kingdom of Komentiolos[/b][/color] is drawing the attention of Khazaria elsewhere, but while the bulk of the two armies are content to simply watch each other from over their defences, not everyone is willing to sit idle. General Sotiris Manilo has raised his new corps, and in the darkness, these corps are put to use. With Sotiris at their head, these soldiers of the republic become like wraiths along the line, ambushing any foraging parties or scouts that stray too far from the safety of the Khazaria lines, before melting away into the shadows. For the first time, blood has been shed on the ground between Khazaria and Kalseran, and perhaps these are the thorns that will rouse the beast of Khazaria. 

[b][u]22nd of February[/u][/b]

Perhaps it is due to the actions of [color=BA55D3][b]The Republic of Kalseran[/b][/color], or perhaps it is simply in reaction to the increasing chance that [b]The Kingdom of Altenten[/b] is moving to side against them, but [b]The Kingdom of Paranas[/b] finally responds to the diplomats of Altenten, serving as a mouthpiece for [color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color]. Just as with Kalseran, dark deals are offered, the spoils of war promised in exchange for their aid, but perhaps the response arrived too late, or perhaps the promises of Kalseran were simply more tempting to Philip Lehner, and the diplomats of Paranas return empty-handed. It becoming increasingly clear that Altenten is aligning itself with the republic, and that alone is enough to cause the commanders of [b]The Kingdom of Stevata[/b] to turn a watchful eye towards their own borders, and consider withdrawing their forces from the defence of Paranas. It seems as if another player is entering the board, and the war between Khazaria and [color=#018c85][b]The Kingdom of Komentiolos[/b][/color] has now drawn no less than eight nations into the maelstrom of battle and bloodshed. 

[b][u]25th of February[/u][/b]

The stark contrast between the growing alliance to the west and the growing war to the east has been stark for a number of months, but for the first time, the west reaches out to the east. Diplomats of [color=87CEEB][b]The Empire of Grimhout[/b][/color], travelling with the full authority of the Western Alliance, and accompanied by military observers hailing from half a dozen nations, journey to the grand courts of the eastern nations. Diplomats arrive at the capitals of [color=#018c85][b]The Kingdom of Komentiolos[/b][/color], [color=BA55D3][b]The Republic of Kalseran[/b][/color], [color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color], [b]The Kingdom of Stevata[/b], [b]The Kingdom of Teclav[/b], [b]The Kingdom of Altenten[/b], [b]The Kingdom of Paranas[/b] and [b]The Empire of Reria[/b], preaching for the case of peace. The Western Alliance holds significant power through sheer strength, but it is clear that the alliance is attempting to establish it's influence through diplomacy, even going so far as to offer taking the role of negotiator between the two sides. Whether these calls for peace fall on deaf ears or not, only time will tell. 

[b][u]28th of February[/u][/b]

In a strange quirk of fate, just as the diplomats of [color=87CEEB][b]The Empire of Grimhout[/b][/color] travel east, diplomats of [color=#018c85][b]The Kingdom of Komentiolos[/b][/color] travel west. And yet, while Grimhout calls for peace, Komentiolos calls for aid. The courts of Grimhout, [b]The Kingdom of Hispalis[/b], [b]The Kingdom of Arhan[/b], [b]The Kingdom of Kehsi[/b], [b]The Kingdom of Genstadt[/b] and [b]The Principality of Asmont[/b] are all implored to stand against the barbarous hordes of the east, but it is not only the Western Alliance that is called upon. The court of [b]The Kingdom of Dorist[/b] is also visited, as well as the northern nations of [b]The Kingdom of Fosbak[/b], [b]The Kingdom of Orvag[/b] and [b]The Empire of Stabuga[/b]. Judging by the calls of peace echoing from the Western Alliance, perhaps their answer to these calls for aid may be obvious, but for the other nations, the outcome is more murky. After all, if Dorist can be coaxed back into war, given a chance to avenge their humbling defeat at the hands of [b]The Kingdom of Stevata[/b], then the new leadership of the nation still wields a formidable army. Not only that, but if Fosbak, Orvag or Stabuga are won over by the words of Komentiolos, then Stevata and [b]The Kingdom of Teclav[/b] will suddenly find their own borders threatened, perhaps forcing them to abandon their war against Komentiolos. Whatever the response to these appeals, both for peace and for war, the outcome has the potential to change the very face of Europe.