[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 1757[/h2][/center] [img]https://i.ibb.co/nmG6kQB/Labelled-Map-1-1.png[/img] [b][u]2nd of April[/u][/b] The second wedding celebration for the bonding of Prince Christophe Dervaux and Princess Marie D'Aboville finally begins to die down. Just as with Rivierberg before it, Cappes, the capital city of [b]The Kingdom of Arhan[/b] has been all but engulfed by this celebration. Grand processions wind through streets that are alive with parades and joy. While the east continues to be consumed by war, the west continues to celebrate it's new position of strength. Just as Arch-Duke Jean-Baptiste Dervaux did weeks before, Queen Ameline I has been careful to use the marriage of her only daughter, and sole heir, to further strengthen the bonds of the Western Alliance, hosting nobles from the nations of the Alliance, as well as from [b]The Kingdom of Dorist[/b] and [b]The Empire of Reria[/b]. The marriage between the heirs of Arhan and [color=87CEEB][b]The Empire of Grimhout[/b][/color] is a significant event, and one that could well shape the future of Europe itself. [b][u]5th of April[/u][/b] As [color=#018c85][b]The Kingdom of Komentiolos[/b][/color] seemed to turn away from the peace offered by the Western Alliance, many feared that the war would continue, that yet more blood would soak the earth of Europe, and yet in a jarring change, Komentiolos suddenly change their stance. While the diplomats of [color=87CEEB][b]The Empire of Grimhout[/b][/color] are delayed and given no assurances, King Nikolaos II seems to take matters into his own hands. A rider is sent across the barren ground between the two waiting armies, travelling under the banner of peace, and this messenger is granted a wary audience with the brother-in-law of King Markus I, Andreas Manz, a man who has been handed the responsibility of overseeing the beleaguered remains of the Paranas army. In the city of Anchialos, which had been seized by the army of Komentiolos just months before, and then wrested back by the combined armies of Paranas and it's allies, the messenger delivers his message. Peace. Komentiolos looks to treaty with the so-called 'Eastern Alliance', offering peace, in exchange for no nation bearing the blame for the bloody war. Not only that, but Komentiolos offers un-harassed passage through the straits that it not controls, aside from a marginal tariff, and proposes a 'demilitarised' zone of some twenty miles between the Komentiolos foothold of Byzantium, and the lines of Paranas. With his message delivered, the messenger announces a temporary cease-fire, a sign of good will to allow Paranas and it's allies to make their decision, before he is given lodgings in the city, albeit under guard. It is no great secret that King Markus I is far from a great king, weak-willed and far more interested in sport and wine than matters of state, but Andreas Manz is a far cry from his father-in-law, a man with a quick wit, and a sharp mind. Dispatching his fastest riders to carry the message to his allies, [b]The Kingdom of Stevata[/b], [b]The Kingdom of Teclav[/b] and [color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color], Andreas also gives word to the diplomats of the Western Alliance who are still lodging in the Paranas capital of Alirgos. As this hastily assembled summit begins to take shape, Andreas allows himself time to mull over the fact that struck him when he first heard the message from Komentiolos. Paranas is locked in a war with four nations, Komentiolos, [b]The Empire of Reria[/b], [b]The Kingdom of Altenten[/b] and [color=BA55D3][b]The Republic of Kalseran[/b][/color], and yet this messenger of peace spoke only for Komentiolos? If Komentiolos wishes to treaty with one alliance, should they not do it with the authority of their own? After all, it is the ships of Kalseran and Reria that hound the shores of Paranas and Khazaria, not the ships of Komentiolos. Trying to ignore his own doubts for now, Andreas awaits the arrival of his allies, and offers a prayer for peace. [b][u]6th of April[/u][/b] As Baptiste Crevier continues to increase his influence in the name of [color=87CEEB][b]The Empire of Grimhout[/b][/color], the other colonies in India do not sit idly by, nor does the bleeding beast of [b]The Viswan Empire[/b] itself. In the aftermath of the death of Stein Fehn, and the sacking of Fort Ivars, the remaining colony of [b]The Kingdom of Kehsi[/b] has fallen under the slightly unwilling command of Viktor Halse, a long serving administrator of the colony, and a man with little stomach for violence. In truth, while many Europeans see India as simply a prize, to be carved up and ransacked, Viktor has fallen in love with the land in which he finds himself. Already a student of the sub-continents dominant languages, Viktor has even taken to writing poetry in the local dialect. An oddity perhaps, but Viktor is experienced, and although it does not quit suit him, command is not an honour that Viktor is planning to shirk. With news of his allies siding with the banished Shah Jafar to the north, Viktor is more interested in toeing the line. After all, while Baptiste seems determined to carve out his own empire, and involve himself in the local politics, Viktor is far more interested in making money, and it is trade that will reap the greatest rewards, at least in the clerk's mind. With that intention, the Kehsi colony continues to trade with all factions in the growing civil war, and a stream of gold continues to run from India, back to the capital of Sabica. [b][u]9th of April[/u][/b] In truth, perhaps it was inevitable that [b]The Kingdom of Dorist[/b] were drawn to the flickering flame of hope that the Western Alliance has become. The loss of Shardvul, and the slaughter of thousands, has brought Dorist almost to it's knees, and while General Albert Riechsand continues to maintain order with an iron fist, even the most loyal soldiers will not fight on without pay. In the end, it is not the promises of peace, or the demonstrations of strength, that win over the proud nation of Dorist, it is the blood that flows through every nation, gold. A string of impressive trade agreements and treaties are signed between the nations of Dorist, and those of the Western Alliance, predominately [b]The Kingdom of Kehsi[/b], [b]The Kingdom of Genstadt[/b], [b]The Principality of Asmont[/b] and [color=87CEEB][b]The Empire of Grimhout[/b][/color]. Although no official alliances are forged, it is becoming increasingly clear that Dorist continues to move further west by the day. After all, it is the Western Alliance that now sustains Dorist, and when that debt is called upon, Dorist will repay it with soldiers and cannons. The slow spread of the Western Alliance continues, and although Dorist is still a shadow of it's former self, it's soldiers are still some of the finest in Europe, and the Western Alliance can now call upon a truly formidable army. [b][u]11th of April[/u][/b] While the colonies of [color=87CEEB][b]The Empire of Grimhout[/b][/color] align themselves with the banished prince, regarding themselves as safe from any wrath of [b]The Viswan Empire[/b] in their settlements to the north, and the colonies of [b]The Kingdom of Kehsi[/b] attempt to distance themselves from the growing conflict as they lick their wounds, the settlements of [color=BA55D3][b]The Republic of Kalseran[/b][/color] have been largely quiet. And yet, in recent days, that silence has been broken. Maria Toleas has officially arrived in India, and she has wasted no time in stamping her authority over the colonies of the republic. With the latest reports spread before her, a wry smile plays on the formidable woman's thin lips. Messengers are sent to the Imperial City of Viswan, and Maria pledges the support of the republic to Shah Mal, and the throne of the empire. Just as Baptiste Crevier has moved to secure his own army, so too does Maria, and the two colonies suddenly find themselves on opposite sides. Even as tension between Grimhout and Kalseran seems to be simmering in Europe, in India, those same tensions threaten to boil over. [b][u]14th of April[/u][/b] Although it is a little unorthodox, the peace summit that [color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color] has suggested, is taking place. Over the last week, Anchialos has become a staging ground for diplomats hailing from Khazaria, [b]The Kingdom of Paranas[/b], [b]The Kingdom of Stevata[/b], [b]The Kingdom of Teclav[/b], as well as representatives of the Western Alliance in the form of diplomats from [color=87CEEB][b]The Empire of Grimhout[/b][/color], and the rider from [color=#018c85][b]The Kingdom of Komentiolos[/b][/color]. Komentiolos may not have spoken for it's allies, but news of this impromptu summit has travelled fast, and it is not long before diplomats of [color=BA55D3][b]The Republic of Kalseran[/b][/color] also arrive at the city, travelling under the banner of truce. Word also arrives that [b]The Empire of Reria[/b] and [b]The Kingdom of Altenten[/b] are sending their own diplomats in the coming days, and so, in the unassuming coastal city of Anchialos, under the watchful eye of Andreas Manz, every nation of the bloody war has finally been brought together. For now, there is little progress, the 'Eastern Alliance' still debating the terms that Komentiolos has presented to them, while a hundred hushed conversations are had behind carefully closed door. War is sometimes all too easy, it is peace that is difficult, and while progress is painfully slow, it is still progress. [b][u]15th of April[/u][/b] Even while there is joy and celebration for the Western Alliance, there is also sorrow. The shadow of death comes for all, and even as revellers return to their home nations, a dark shroud is cast over [b]The Principality of Asmont[/b], as Princess Karoline Asmont dies. Wife of Prince William Asmont, beloved by her husband, her family and her nation, the kind-hearted woman had been ill for months, and even the finest doctors that the wealth of the principality could provide were not enough to stave off the inevitable. The death clearly weighs heavy on the shoulders of Prince William, the spark extinguished, and in hushed voices, there are those in the court of the principality that believe the prince will not tarry for long without his princess. If Prince William does pass, the grief bringing his own life to an end, then the crown will pass to his son, Prince Alexandre, himself only recently married to Juliette, the daughter of Arch-Duke Jean-Baptiste Dervaux, ruler of [color=87CEEB][b]The Empire of Grimhout[/b][/color]. Even where there is sorrow, the bonds between the members of the Western Alliance seem to continue going from strength to strength. [b][u]16th of April[/u][/b] With every day that passes, the truth continues to bleed out from the province of Aegyptus. News has reached across the water, and reached the shores of the Mediterranean, and [color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color] are the first to break the silence, issuing a declaration to publicly condemn their ancient enemy. Rumours have already been swirling regarding the slaughter of the Komentiolos people at the hands of unfeeling butchers, but Khazaria's declaration is enough to whip those rumours into a wildfire, causing uproar in the nations of Khazaria and it's allies, even as peace seems to be drawing ever closer. And yet even as this uproar grips the enemies of [color=#018c85][b]The Kingdom of Komentiolos[/b][/color], it's allies do not escape unblemished. It would be naive to assume that [b]The Empire of Reria[/b] and [color=BA55D3][b]The Republic of Kalseran[/b][/color] had not already heard rumours of the massacres, yet this declaration from Khazaria forces their hands, and their is a growing voice of outrage in both nations. And yet, if Komentiolos is phased by these revelations, it does little to show it. In fact, quite the opposite is true. More than ten thousand soldiers of Komentiolos are brought from the front line with Khazaria, and deployed in the charred remains of Aegyptus. While this can be seen as a step towards peace, it is another harbinger of doom for those that still inhabit Aegyptus. Those nobles that have already fled in the night are stripped of any title and lands, their remaining wealth seized, and Komentiolos makes no move to hide the truth of it's heavy-handed practices, instead seeming to even display them as a stark and bloody warning. Rebellion will not be tolerated by Komentiolos, and it is the kingdom's divine right to enact it's retribution however it see's fit, even if it is through the slaughter of it's own people. Unsurprisingly, this response does nothing to subdue the uproar, instead whipping into even more of a frenzy. How the rest of Europe choose to react may well shape the very face of the continent for generations. [b][u]17th of April[/u][/b] The diplomatic summit that [color=#018c85][b]The Kingdom of Komentiolos[/b][/color] called with the northern nations of [b]The Kingdom of Fosbak[/b], [b]The Kingdom of Orvag[/b], [b]The Empire of Stabuga[/b] and [b]The Kingdom of Dorist[/b] has barely begun, the nations still coming to terms with what the others expect and demand, before Komentiolos abruptly brings it a halt. Rather than attempt to reach any agreement, the ageing diplomat Yannis Antonellis, the representative of King Nikolaos II, simply declares that Komentiolos wishes to see an end to the war, it's attention shifting to other matters. The diplomats of the so-called 'Northern Kingdoms' are understandably a little stunned by this sudden change in direction. After all, it was Komentiolos that called them all together, only to seemingly dismiss them, like a child growing bored of a toy. The change in Komentiolos stance on the war with [color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color] is so abrupt that it is jarring, but for those that cry out for peace, it is a great victory. [b][u]19th of April[/u][/b] No doubt eased by the recent celebrations, and influenced by the formidable strength of the Western Alliance, the relationship between the nations of [b]The Kingdom of Arhan[/b] and [b]The Empire of Reria[/b] have not been so good for generations. The increasingly hostile tensions that had been growing just months past are long-forgotten, the planned coup against Queen Ameline I a distant memory, and trade once again flows freely between the two neighbours. Just as new trade agreements to the north bring [b]The Kingdom of Dorist[/b] closer to the fold, this new age of friendship seems to be easing Reria further into the clutches of the Western Alliance. It is marriage that bonds Reria with [color=#018c85][b]The Kingdom of Komentiolos[/b][/color] and [color=BA55D3][b]The Republic of Kalseran[/b][/color], and it is those bonds that have seen Reria blood spilled in the Black Sea, but as the flickering glimmer of peace seems to be growing brighter by the day, Reria is looking beyond the war, and as the nations of the Western Alliance continue to flourish, Emperor Clarenzio III is smart enough to recognise an opportunity when it presents itself. Not only that, but Reria's budding colonial enterprise in North Africa has already leaned on the support of [b]The Kingdom of Hispalis[/b], and a closer relationship could only strengthen Reria's influence. [b][u]22nd of April[/u][/b] As the fallout following the brutal murder of Emperor Shah Miran continues to spiral, a number of factions begin to emerge from the chaos. The new Emperor, Shah Mal, still commands [b]The Viswan Empire[/b], and with it comes vast swathes of land in the west of the subcontinent, a formidable army, and the welcome support of Maria Toleas and [color=BA55D3][b]The Republic of Kalseran[/b][/color], while the east of the sub-continent, headed by the powerful Mir Khan, a close friend of the former emperor, has declared it's support for the banished prince Shah Jafar, with the support of Baptiste Crevier and [color=87CEEB][b]The Empire of Grimhout[/b][/color]. To the south, the loosely banded together handful of local princes and lords have shown no great loyalty to either faction, preferring instead to focus on their own interests, much like the colonies of [b]The Kingdom of Kehsi[/b]. The final figure to place themselves on the board is the one who the least is known about, and who's meteoric rise to power comes as the greatest surprise. The mountain man Nader ud-Daula was little more than a bandit only a few years past, but his raw talent for command saw him taken under the wing of the ageing nabob Safdar Jahan, and proved himself such a competent leader of men, that he expanded the nabob's influence across much of northern India, and well into the mountains. When Safdar Jahan died, his only son a weak boy, few stood in the way of Nader ud-Daula seizing power, and in the aftermath of the emperor's death, Nader ud-Daula saw the opportunity to break away from the empire, and declare himself king, commanding a formidable army in his own right. Between these four loose factions, India is divided, and as tensions continue to rise, civil war seems inevitable. What part the European colonies have to play, is still yet to be seen. [b][u]24th of April[/u][/b] It is not only to the east that Europe is increasing it's influence. With the new treaties of the Western Alliance quickly extinguishing any tensions in the region, the Americas are not dominated by the joint powers of [b]The Kingdom of Kehsi[/b] and [color=87CEEB][b]The Empire of Grimhout[/b][/color]. The Americas does not boast the grand empires of India, but it is still a rich and bountiful land, and with no rivals for influence in the region, the two nations have been further securing their own footholds. While Kehsi dominates the islands, producing vast quantities of tobacco and sugar in the tropical conditions, the colonies of Grimhout still largely consist of trading ports and a handful of forts scattered along the coastline of the continent, frequently trade with the native tribes, as well as providing their own tobacco, and shipping enough flour, rice and grains back to Europe to feed Grimhout three times over. While it does not boast the complex political manoeuvring of India, the Americas is still an impressive prize, and with every passing day, more ships arrive carrying bright-eyed Europeans, looking to carve out a name for themselves in the untapped wilderness, away from the conflict and wars of Europe. [b][u]25th of April[/u][/b] Just as [color=#018c85][b]The Kingdom of Komentiolos[/b][/color] enforces a ceasefire as the peace talks slowly progress, so too does the fleet of [color=BA55D3][b]The Republic of Kalseran[/b][/color] and [b]The Empire of Reria[/b]. Admiral Iraklis Roberto continues his loose blockade, but there are no more assaults against the ports of [color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color], and for now, the advantage shown during the Battle of Chersonesus is not pursued. For the talks themselves, the diplomats of the republic are largely non-committal, taking care to listen to the terms, and attempt to push for the republic's interests should the opportunity present itself, but they do not push for any quick conclusion. For now, the most substantial terms presented by any of the present parties is the ultimatum presented by Komentiolos, and for now, the impetus rests on the shoulders of Khazaria and it's allies to give their response. The balance between war and peace is always a perilously thin line, but Khazaria holds the power to swing the pendulum towards an end to the wanton bloodshed. [b][u]27th of April[/u][/b] The newly signed trade agreements between [b]The Kingdom of Dorist[/b] and the nations of the Western Alliance has been a lifeline for the beleaguered nation, and as wealth once again begins to flow into the nation, General Albert Riechsand seems to finally reach a decision. Dorist is a nation bowed, but it is a nation unbroken, and as wealth returns, support for the charismatic cavalryman only continues to climb, the newly loyal nobility lending their support more willingly. Even the mere figurehead of King Freud I is cheered in the streets of Talfist, and the nation can finally begin to heal from it's bloody defeat at the hands of [color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color] and it's allies. The source of this newfound vitality can be traced to the west, and General Albert is a man who does not forget his debts. Messengers are sent across the Western Alliance, inviting the great and good of the proud nations of [color=87CEEB][b]The Empire of Grimhout[/b][/color], [b]The Kingdom of Kehsi[/b], [b]The Kingdom of Arhan[/b], [b]The Kingdom of Hispalis[/b], [b]The Kingdom of Genstadt[/b] and [b]The Principality of Asmont[/b] to a great feast in the capital of Dorist. On the face of it, this festival is to honour the trade agreements, and give the worn citizens of Dorist a chance to dream of a brighter future, but to the leaders of the Western Alliance, the invitation is clearly an extended hand, and Dorist moves ever closer to joining the fold of the powerful alliance. [b][u]29th of April[/u][/b] Despite the outrage still roaring in courts across Europe, it is not only Europe that has been stunned by the actions of [color=#018c85][b]The Kingdom of Komentiolos[/b][/color] in Aegyptus. Despite the efforts of Komentiolos to prevent it, the wealthy traders continue to dissapear into the night, taking with them all the wealth that they can carry, and using their influence to escape either across the sea, or to the south, and into land beyond the heavy reach of Komentiolos. Many of these traders are quickly able to find sanctuary in the other great trading nations of the Mediterranean, their wealth and power still valuable commodities, but there are still others that do not have these luxuries. As villages are razed to their ground, and every inhabitant slaughtered, from the revered elders to babes still at their mother's breast, countless other villages decided to not risk the same fate. Many of the people that carve out a life in the shifting sands are still partly nomadic, and so they were quick to slip away, leaving the dark soldiers of Komentiolos to find abandoned villages. The deserts of Aegyptus have always been quiet, but now they are eerily so. Many of the villagers that flee do so the west, finding new homes in the land still unclaimed by any of the European powers, caught between Aegyptus and the fledgling colony of [b]The Empire of Reria[/b], and as they carry their story, it causes outrage in North Africa, just as it does in Europe. As the news continues to spread west like wildfire, it reaches the established colonies of [b]The Kingdom of Hispalis[/b], who suddenly find themselves faced with a local population that is enraged. It is a testament to the strength of the influence that Hispalis possesses that they are able to maintain control, but the voices calling for retaliation, or at least condemnation, grow louder and louder by the day. The actions of General Marcian Augustus, under the order of King Nikolaos II, have already been carved into history with blood, and they will echo in eternity. [b][u]30th of April[/u][/b] Far from the blood-soaked sands of Aegyptus, [b]The Empire of Stabuga[/b] have been working tirelessly. With great effort, General Desya Sorokin has pushed forward into the wilderness. A string of settlements and forts now reach out east from Fort Barinov, and although the weather is harsh, the very terrain inhospitable, the people are Stabuga are a hardy breed, and with every step forward, the next comes a little easier. General Desya has taken to his task with resolve, and he has excelled. Through careful negotiation and trade, the hardened commander has managed to not only ease Stabuga's progress through aid from the local tribes that call the frozen tundra home, but he has been able to imbue the very influence of the empire into these tribes. After all, their paths were one and the same in centuries past, and as the reach of Stabuga increases, the tribes begin looking more and more like people of Stabuga. While the young Tsar Petya Barinov strengthens the empire's influence in the west, Desya does the same in the west, and Stabuga continues to grow stronger.