[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]1st of May[/u][/b]

Even as the peace talks in [b]The Kingdom of Paranas[/b] slowly continue, [color=f26522][b]The Kingdom of Stevata[/b][/color] appears to be taking things into it's own hands. Just as [b]The Kingdom of Dorist[/b] has announced a grand feast, so too does Stevata. Invitations are dispatched across Europe, reaching the courts of a dozen nations, and extensive preparations grip the capital of Ravoza. The court of Stevata is already buzzing with activity, and it seems like the young King Oswald IV has developed grand ambitions, and intends to stake his nation's claim as one of the great powers in Europe. Whether these grand plans will see fruition, only time will tell, and for now, Oswald can only sit and wait for his guests to arrive. 

[b][u]3rd of May[/u][/b]

With every day that passes, the dove of peace seems to further unfurl it's wings. [b]The Kingdom of Paranas[/b] has been reduced to a battlefield for months, the very soil soaked with the blood of half a dozen nations, but finally, the flaming horse of war seems to have halted it's ride. Just as [color=#018c85][b]The Kingdom of Komentiolos[/b][/color] has called for a ceasefire, so too does [color=BA55D3][b]The Republic of Kalseran[/b][/color]. In a personal letter to King Markus I, the Grand Lady of the Republic calls for an end to the tension that has threatened to engulf the nation's shared border in bloody violence, and it quickly becomes clear that her words fall upon sympathetic ears. King Markus officially accepts the cease-fire, under no small influence from his brother-in-law, Andreas Manz, and celebrations break out across the border, both sides finally allowing themselves to believe that peace will win out. In the impromptu summit however, things are not as hopeful. In the squat fortress that dominates the heart of Alirgos, nations from across Europe rub shoulders together, and yet the progress is sluggish. Not only do the two sides struggle to see eye to eye, despite the best efforts of the diplomats from [color=87CEEB][b]The Empire of Grimhout[/b][/color] to find a middle ground, but rumours are abound that [color=f26522][b]The Kingdom of Stevata[/b][/color] intends to lay out it's own peace terms during it's feast. The ceasefire holds, but the path to true peace is still a winding one. 

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

Even as the tensions in Europe seem to be cooling, the war in India is only just beginning to gain momentum. Armies are being raised by all four of the factions currently squabbling over the sub-continent, and for the European powers that hold territory int he region, the coming conflict could provide them with the opportunity to plunder the vast wealth of the crumbling Viswan Empire. It has been months since the brutal murder of Emperor Shah Miran, and as the first news reaches European shores, quiet preparations get underway. Ships under the flags of [color=87CEEB][b]The Empire of Grimhout[/b][/color], [color=BA55D3][b]The Republic of Kalseran[/b][/color] and [b]The Kingdom of Kehsi[/b] are stocked for the long voyage east, but they are not loaded with the usual cargo, instead they carry with them soldiers, muskets and cannons, as well as coffers of gold. India may be countless miles away from the courts of Europe, but the riches that the colonies in the region already provide are more than enough to persuade these European powers that defending those riches from others is a more than worthwhile cause. It will be months before these ships reach India, and it is impossible to know how changed the face of India will be be the time they do arrive, or even to let the colonists know that aid is on it's way. For now, Baptiste Crevier, Maria Toleas and Viktor Halse must guide their people through the chaos ahead alone. 

[b][u]7th of May[/u][/b]

As the pressure builds for [b]The Kingdom of Hispalis[/b] to act from it's colonies in North Africa, and the outrage grows in the other western nations, the Western Alliance once more wades into diplomacy. Issuing a joint declaration from all six of the nations current bound by the alliance, the Western Alliance publicly condemns the actions of [color=#018c85][b]The Kingdom of Komentiolos[/b][/color] in the province of Aegyptus. Komentiolos has already shown that it feels no remorse for the bloodshed within it's own borders, yet the declaration of the Western Alliance, branding Komentiolos as archaic and heavy-handed and challenging the kingdom's divine right to slaughter it's own people, will still no doubt strike a chord with King Nikolaos II. After all, the Western Alliance is quickly growing to be a truly formidable force, and if it is indeed peace that King Nikolaos desires, then the indignation of the Western Alliance could at best be a thorn in his side, and at worse, be another enemy to wage war against. The Alliance's outrage does not stand alone, and it is not only [color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color] that has condemned the actions, but the uproar has also spread to the nations that Komentiolos calls it's allies, in [color=BA55D3][b]The Republic of Kalseran[/b][/color] and [b]The Empire of Reria[/b]. Rebellion is a sickness, a pox, but perhaps the decision of Komentiolos to purge that plague with such vigour may cause more pain than the rebellion ever could have.  

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

[color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color] has long been a nation struggling to find it's identity. While parts of the nation have pulled towards the modern practices of Europe, the roots of tradition go deep, and they do not want to be pulled free. This clash between tradition and modernity has only been exasperated by the vast gulf that exists between the civilised cities along the nation's southern coastline, and the nomadic tribes that still carve out a life on the cast steppes to the east. The young Şahin Macar, not yet a man, and yet with the weight of an entire nation on his shoulders, has already shown his intention to bring the two sides of his nation together as one, and in no small part thanks to the machinations of the young emperor's aunt, Sevil Macar, this intent has reaped it's rewards. The undisputed matriarch of the Macar bloodline has not been sitting idle while war rages to the west, instead, she has been carefully moving pieces into place, independent of her own nephew, and now, as the war finally seems to be drawing to an end, she plays her hand. It will no doubt be the subject of much study for future historians to try and determine what it was that united the people of Khazaria as one, whether it was the show of strength from Khazaria's army in cutting a bloody swathe across Europe, or the collective outrage at the atrocities of [color=#018c85][b]The Kingdom of Komentiolos[/b][/color], or the shadowy deals and alliances struck by Sevil Macar herself, but in truth, only Sevil could know the truth, and that is a secret that she will carry with her to her grave. Whatever the cause, whether carefully calculated, or sheer luck, Khazaria has never been more united, and this cultural revolution is driving the empire into a new golden age, even as it emerges from a bloody war. 

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

In his opening move, King Oswald IV addresses the nations of [b]The Kingdom of Dorist[/b] and [b]The Kingdom of Altenten[/b] first, offering trade with [color=f26522][b]The Kingdom of Stevata[/b][/color], intending to use the two nations as trade routes between the east and the west. The young king has made it clear that he hopes that the kings and queens of Europe will gather in his great hall, but from the first step, there is a snag. After all, Dorist is hosting it's own feast for the nations of the Western Alliance, and despite the grand ambitions of Stevata, the loyalty of the west still lies within it's alliance. Recognising the significance of the Stevata invitation, all six nations of the Western Alliance, as well as Dorist, are careful to send important representatives, but for the rulers themselves, it is to Talfist that they are drawn, not Ravoza. Despite Dorist only sending Herman Thumer, the younger brother of King Freud I, Altenten do arrive with a royal procession. In what is effectively his first royal duty, King Niklas IV makes the short journey to the north-east, accompanied by an impressive retinue, and his cousin, Prince Lukas. The delegations of the Western Alliance also arrive, each greeted by King Oswald in turn. [color=87CEEB][b]The Empire of Grimhout[/b][/color] is represented by the Arch-Dukes youngest brother, Marc-Antoine Dervaux, while the [b]The Kingdom of Kehsi[/b] sends the dowager queen, Karoline Hanstad. [b]The Principality of Asmont[/b] dispatches Prince William's sister, Emilia Strahl, [b]The Kingdom of Hispalis[/b] sends the king's brother-in-law, Oscar Rodriguez, while [b]The Kingdom of Arhan[/b] is represented by Lord Gérald Vandame, long-serving confidante and trusted adviser of Queen Ameline. It is in reaching [b]The Kingdom of Genstadt[/b] that Stevata suffers it's second pitfall. King Oswald sends his own brother to personally invite the widowed queen, Prince Marcin carrying a wealth of extravagant and grand gifts to try and win her over, and yet it is a cruel coincidence that when Marcin arrives into Amersdorp, he finds that Queen Margriet has already travelled east to join the feast of Dorist. Left empty-handed, Marcin resolves to instead invite the queen's brother, Prince Quinten, and return to Stevata with a heavy heart. Despite these pitfalls, King Oswald still spares no expense, and the Western Alliance appears to be open to the idea of trade with Stevata, yet Oswald finds himself once again foiled by the feast of Dorist, as Dorist hesitates to commit to trade routes. Perhaps looking to seize it's opportunity, Altenten is quick to offer it's borders to trade, although until a trade agreement is officially struck with the Western Alliance, those are still empty promises. Attempting to ignore these early setbacks, Oswald, and the nation of Stevata behind him, push on. 

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

With each day that passes, [color=BA55D3][b]The Republic of Kalseran[/b][/color] continues to de-escalate it's involvement in the war. The formidable Seaguard return home, and although the vast bulk of the republic's fleet remain in the Black Sea, it is becoming increasingly clear that for Kalseran at least, this war is nearing it's end. The cynical and the paranoid might claim that the return of the Seaguard could be seen as Kalseran further strengthening it's defensive position, but for the wives and mother's of these brave men, their return is cause for celebration and tears of joy. The Grand Lady of the Republic also takes the opportunity to publicly commend the young Giovanni Varda, the officer that dragged the badly wounded Admiral Dionisio Giorgino to safety after the humbling defeat at the hands of [b]The Kingdom of Paranas[/b]. Giovanni is offered a captainship, and as Dionisio recovers from his wounds, there is not insignificant attention being paid to the young officer, not only by Luisa A'Dera herself, but also by powerful figures in the republic's navy. 

[b][u]13th of May[/u][/b]

While the feast of [color=f26522][b]The Kingdom of Stevata[/b][/color] has to make do with representatives, the Summer Palace of [b]The Kingdom of Dorist[/b] plays host to possibly one of the greatest gatherings of power that Europe has ever seen. With King Freud I acting as the gracious host, and General Albert Riechsand weaving his way between the various delegations, every nation of the Western Alliance descends upon the city of Talfist.  Arch-Duke Jean-Baptise Dervaux of [color=87CEEB][b]The Empire of Grimhout[/b][/color], King Janek II of [b]The Kingdom of Kehsi[/b], Prince William Asmont of [b]The Principality of Asmont[/b], Queen Margriet I of [b]The Kingdom of Genstadt[/b], Queen Ameline I of [b]The Kingdom of Arhan[/b] and King Charles XII of [b]The Kingdom of Hispalis[/b], as well as dozens of lords and princes, and a small army of Royal Guards all travel east, and the celebrations begin in full force. Many of these kings and queens may have not met in person before, and the sheer significance of the event is not lost on any of those present. Hushed conversations are had between the men and women that rule not only the West, but also the Americas, and large swathes of India, and as the feast continues, the Kingdom of Dorist continues to draw ever closer to joining this powerful alliance. While the nobility drink win together, hundreds of clerks and diplomats move silently through the Palace, and it is there, in the shadows, that the real work is done, and new treaties are drawn up. 

[b][u]15th of May[/u][/b]

In the midst of the chaos, and war, life is once more brought into the world. Twin boys, Constans and Heraclius, are born to King Nikolaos II and his queen, Anna Koromelas, and celebrations are carried out all across the nation of [color=#018c85][b]The Kingdom of Komentiolos[/b][/color]. Constans is born just nine minutes before his brother, marking him as the new heir to Komentiolos, and as Anna recovers from childbirth, clutching both children to her breast, there are many within the Komentiolos court who wonder, or hope, if fatherhood will soften the edges of Nikolaos. Perhaps these twins will be the true motivation for peace, greater than anything offered up by [color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color], or even [color=87CEEB][b]The Empire of Grimhout[/b][/color]. And yet while there are those who believe that Constans and Heraclius will push Nikolaos towards peace, there are still those who fear that they will only further fuel the burning ambition of the king. For now though, Nikolaos allows himself to relax with his wife and newborns, leaving the struggle and strife of reality for another day. 

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

Far from the diplomatic manoeuvring of Europe, the simmering tensions that have gripped India in the aftermath of the Emperor's murder finally erupt into open conflict. Many expected it to be the new Emperor, Shah Mal, that acted first, wielding the vast war-machine of [b]The Viswan Empire[/b] to bring those that defy him back to heel, and yet it is not from the west that the drums of war first beat. At his heart, Nader ud-Daula is still a bandit, a cut-throat and a thief despite the riches that now surround him, and the power that he wields in his new 'kingdom', and that opportunistic streak has never left him. Forgoing the civilities of declaring war, Nader ud-Daula simply gathers his host around him, and descends upon the northern Viswan city of Vandamia. The city is only protected by a meagre garrison, and it falls within hours. Tales already tell of how is was Nader ud-Daula that led the charge, scaling the walls and falling upon the defenders with a curved sword clutched in each hand and a wild fire burning in his eyes, while still other tales tell of Nader breathing fire upon the city, and bringing the walls down with a clap of his hands. Whatever the truth, the reality is that the northern king has bloodied the nose of the Viswan Empire, and firmly staked his claim as a new power. If the Emperor Shah Mal is surprised, he is careful not to show it to his watchful court, instead ordering his own armies to assemble, and prepare to bring ruin to the north. For Mir Khan in the east, a difficult choice presents itself. Nader ud-Daula has shown no loyalty, usurping the son of the man that gave him everything with little remorse, and striking dishonourably against the Viswan, but he is also an exceptional commander, with a formidable army, whose legend and support only grows with every battle. Can Nader be used as a weapon to return the banished Shah Jafar to his rightful throne, or will the mountain kings ambition consume all of India if left unchecked? The war that follows will be known by a dozen names, but what stands to be proven, is just how committed the European powers of [color=BA55D3][b]The Republic of Kalseran[/b][/color] and [color=87CEEB][b]The Empire of Grimhout[/b][/color] are to the causes they have sided with. 

[b][u]18th of May[/u][/b]

When news of the sacking of Vandamia reach the settlements of [color=87CEEB][b]The Empire of Grimhout[/b][/color], Baptiste Crevier does not hesitate. The sepahi regiments are still only in their infancy, but Baptiste is determined that Grimhout will not go meekly into the night if [b]The Viswan Empire[/b] does strike into the east. News of the growing relationship between Grimhout and [b]The Kingdom of Dorist[/b] will not reach India for months, and yet it is still a man of Dorist that Baptiste appoints as the commander of Grimhout's forces in India. Heinrich Rosengart is a grizzled veteran, turned soldier of fortune, and the demand for European ways of war in India drew him to the subcontinent nearly a decade past. Heinrich shares none of the love for his new-found home with Viktor Halse, but he has an impressive understanding of how the Viswan Empire wages war, and he is a talented commander, taking to the task with relish, after a suitable payment from the coffers of Grimhout. Not content on relying on his own strength alone, Baptiste also writes two letters. The first goes to Mir Khan, once again pledging his support to Prince Shah Jafar, and offering aid wherever it can be provided, while the second goes south, destined for the hands of Viktor Halse in his post as de-facto commander of the colonies of [b]The Kingdom of Kehsi[/b]. Baptiste's letter is frank, addressing the quiet and studious man that he met in passing months prior as a friend, and as an equal, and calls on Kehsi to lend it's support to Grimhout, and give it's strength to it's ally. Whether Viktor answers the call, only he can know, but whatever the outcome, three fleets have already left Europe, and begun their long journey east, each sailing to lend formidable strength to the colonies of Grimhout, Kehsi and [color=BA55D3][b]The Republic of Kalseran[/b][/color]. 

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

Progress on the trade agreements is slow, but [color=f26522][b]The Kingdom of Stevata[/b][/color] is not dissuaded, and as more guests continue to arrive, King Oswald IV continues to pursue his grand ambitions. Here at least, Stevata see's more success. King Valterri IV is an old man, and even the short journey to the capital of Stevata would be a great exertion for him, but his son and heir, Prince Albert, travels in his stead, representing [b]The Kingdom of Orvag[/b]. Both [b]The Kingdom of Fosbak[/b] and [b]The Empire of Stabuga[/b] send their rulers south, Queen Marta II and Tsar Petya Barinov no doubt looking forward to the oppurtunity to rekindle their friendship. And yet while Stevata attempt to gain favour with these northern nations, it is to the south that King Oswald's attention is drawn. The invitation that is sent to [color=BA55D3][b]The Republic of Kalseran[/b][/color] carries with it all the fine gifts and extravagance of the one that travelled to [b]The Kingdom of Genstadt[/b], and the "Most Excellent and Fair Lady of Kalseran" accepts, travelling to Ravoza with an impressive retinue. On her arrival, she is again showered with gifts and praise, and it quickly becomes apparent that it is not just friendship that King Oswald is pursuing. Luisa A'Dera has not held power over the republic for so many years by being slow to catch on, and she is no doubt aware of the intentions of the man nearly ten years her younger. For now, she stays quiet, but the matter cannot be avoided forever, and Oswald, and indeed Stevata itself, is waiting. 

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

Just as Baptiste Crevier is attempting to solidify his own position in the name of [color=87CEEB][b]The Empire of Grimhout[/b][/color], Maria Toleas is also quick to act. While she does not possess the rapidly expanding military strength of Grimhout's colonies, Maria is well aware of her own advantages. [color=BA55D3][b]The Republic of Kalseran[/b][/color] has had it's claws in India for far longer than Grimhout has, and while Baptiste is a perfectly competent leader, he does not boast the razor wit and silver tongue of Maria Toleas. With these weapons in mind, Maria sends messengers south, reaching the courts of those princes and lords that trade with Kalseran, and bending their ear to her cause. And yet while Baptiste has made it clear that he stands with Mir Khan and the banished prince Shah Jafar, Maria's supposed loyalty to [b]The Viswan Empire[/b] is far less clear. Although she is careful to feign her allegiance to Emperor Shah Mal, no doubt aware of the power he still wields, her careful manoeuvring in the south is to ensure these southern lords are loyal to her, rather than to the Emperor. Maria is already proving her worth, but it is also becoming increasingly clear that these moves do not only deceive the Emperor, they also ensure that it is Maria that rules supreme, not the republic. 

[b][u]24th of May[/u][/b]

Even while the negotiations in Anchialos continue to drag on, the nations that strive for peace do not sit idly by. Harking to the anguished cries of [b]The Kingdom of Paranas[/b], [color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color] throws open it's gates. Much-needed supplies flow eastwards, bringing relief to those that still attempt to carve out a living in the war-torn nation. Not only that, but refugees are ushered to the relative safety that Khazaria can offer, eased by the Paranas descendants that already call the border cities of Khazaria home. And yet it is not just trade and peace that Khazaria works towards. After months of back-breaking work, the threat of the combined fleets of their enemies [color=BA55D3][b]The Republic of Kalseran[/b][/color] and [b]The Empire of Reria[/b] hanging over them like a dark cloud, the shipwrights of Khazaria can finally lay down their tools, for now at least. Nineteen new frigates take to the water, swelling the ranks of the empire's navy. The ceasefire in the Black Sea may have been welcome respite for Khazaria, but they are already healing their wounds, and rebuilding their strength, and although the work was begun over a year ago, it is still a clear sign of intent, and with the fleet of [color=#018c85][b]The Kingdom of Komentiolos[/b][/color] still in tatters, a warning sign for Khazaria's ancient enemy. 

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

While [color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color] has looked to strengthen itself, [color=#018c85][b]The Kingdom of Komentiolos[/b][/color] appears to be moving in the opposite direction. The vast conscript army of Komentiolos granted the kingdom a truly formidable army, dwarfing anything that it's enemies could field against it, but such power comes at a cost. Crops have been left unharvested, and calving and lambing have been ravaged by the lack of experienced hands to tend it, and while the nation has poured every effort into the war, other industries have crumbled away. But as peace seems to becoming more of a reality, nearly ten thousand soldiers are finally given orders to return home, marching eastwards and returning to the farms that have been crying out for them. Just as the Seaguard's return to [color=BA55D3][b]The Republic of Kalseran[/b][/color] sparked celebration, so too does the return of these sons of Komentiolos. And yet that joy is not without it's sorrow. For every family that regains a father, a brother or a husband, there are a dozen more that are left to wait.  

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

With it's only rival in the region now a firm ally, [color=87CEEB][b]The Empire of Grimhout[/b][/color] looks to consolidate it's position in the Americas. Rather than looking to extend it's reach, Grimhout instead moves to strengthen it's influence within the territory it already holds. With more colonists arriving by the day from Europe, a string of new forts and settlements are established, and the older ports and harbours begin to steadily expand, sprawling beyond their walls to become bustling towns. One of Grimhout's oldest settlements on the continent, the harbour of Charoux, has continued to grow and flourish, particularly in recent months, with rich trade also flowing from the nearby colonies of [b]The Kingdom of Kehsi[/b], and it has emerged as not only the effective capital of Grimhout in the region, but also the closest thing to a city in the Americas. As ships carrying colonists continue to arrive, and ships overladen with riches continue to sail east, the Americas is proving to be even more of a jewel in the crown of Arch-Duke than India could hope to be. 

[b][u]29th of May[/u][/b]

Aegyptus is a shadow of it's former self. Dozens of the oldest and most powerful families of the province have already fled for safer shores, and although they find that their flight is not hindered by the soldiers of [color=#018c85][b]The Kingdom of Komentiolos[/b][/color], their titles and lands are stripped away, and much of their wealth seized. It is like a great exodus, as these ancient families flee from their homeland in the face of the brutal violence of Komentiolos. Lesser nobility, as well as loyal officers are quickly raised up to fill this sudden gulf, but the damage is already done, and the province is scarred. For now at least, some semblance of normality seems to be slowly returning. The rebels have been purged, either slaughtered where they stood, or fled deeper into the shifting sands, and as more soldiers of Komentiolos arrive, a sombre order has descended over the province, none daring to challenge the authority of Komentiolos, lest they find themselves cut down, or nailed to a roughly-hewn cross and left to die beneath the beating sun. And yet while order returns to Aegyptus, beyond it's shores, it is chaos and uproar that still reigns. The Western Alliance has already publicly condemned the behaviour and actions of Komentiolos, echoing the sentiment of [color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color], and even in the courts of the kingdom's allies, the sheer bloody violence cannot be ignored. Europe may peddle war and death, yet it still claims to be the heart of civilisation, and the unbridled murder of women and innocent babes is a practice that turns the stomach of the European nobility, no matter the cause. 

[b][u]30th of May[/u][/b]

Luisa A'Dera accepts the lavish invitation of [color=f26522][b]The Kingdom of Stevata[/b][/color], but even after her arrival in Ravoza, she refuses to give a full answer to his offer of marriage. The Grand Lady of the Republic is quick to stress that she means no disrespect to the young King Oswald IV, but that she simply wishes to assess the public and international attitude, before committing herself to such a significant move. Undeterred, Oswald continues his attempts to woo the powerful woman, and despite the placation of Luisa, the lack of approval will no doubt sting just as keenly as an outright rejection. For now, however, there is little time for the king to feel sorry for himself. The invitations to [color=#018c85][b]The Kingdom of Komentiolos[/b][/color] and [b]The Empire of Reria[/b], and plans have been put in place to ensure that Stevata's grandest ambitions may well be coming to fruition. 

[u][b]31st of May[/b][/u]

Emperor Clarenzio III arrives into Ravoza at the head of an impressive retinue, representing [b]The Empire of Reria[/b] in person for the coming negotiations, but of [color=#018c85][b]The Kingdom of Komentiolos[/b][/color], there is no sign. Not only does King Nikolaos II not make the journey northwards, but neither does any representative of Komentiolos. This is the latest blow to the plans of [color=f26522][b]The Kingdom of Stevata[/b][/color], but it may well prove to be the most significant. After all, what use is a peace summit if one of the main aggressors is clearly absent? Determined not to be deterred, King Oswald IV still pushes onwards, and before the nations that have gathered in the capital of Stevata, a new peace agreement is laid out, one that is a far cry from the one presented by the rider of Komentiolos in Anchialos. Oswald calls for Komentiolos to not only take full blame for the start of the war, and all of the bloodshed that has followed, but also cede all of the land unjustly seized from [b]The Kingdom of Paranas[/b]. In the absence of Komentiolos itself, Oswald urges all of the other nations present, including [color=87CEEB][b]The Empire of Grimhout[/b][/color], [color=BA55D3][b]The Republic of Kalseran[/b][/color] and [color=FFD700][b]The Empire of Khazaria[/b][/color], to sign the treaty, in solidarity against Komentiolos. The grand feast of Stevata may well be a shadow of the spectacle that Oswald envisioned, with only a handful of other leaders present, and Komentiolos itself totally absent, but there are still representatives of nearly every European nation assembled in his hall, and the reaction to this new peace treaty will inevitably decide the fate of Europe, and those all across the continent hold their breath.