[b][center]THE AGE OF NATIONS FEBRUARY 1ST, 1836[/center][/b] [center][b]JARELIAN INDEPENDENCE CRISIS[/b] (JANUARY 1836-Ongoing)[/center] The Jarelian Independence Movement had garnered some steam and received much needed supplies through the half frozen port of Kurdas two weeks after it's call for aid went out. Though clandestine, the supplies were much needed muskets and ammunition for the independence movement, though only enough to equip a full regiment. The supplies, as far as the Murelians could tell, were nondescript. Their makeup however was definitely high quality. King Hans Ludwick suspected the Dalatrians or Zukovians, but went no further than pacing in his own deluded thoughts. The King himself received aid from abroad, Boletarian rifles, Nehalanians crates of bandages, ammunition and musket shot. The Zellonians sent foodstuffs from their southern coasts. Better equipped, the Blackcoats mobilized and went on a thorough rampage of the Murelian countryside, looting no less than a dozen villages and burning half the port city of Kurdas to the ground. Nehalanian and Skeptonian sailors watched the skies blacken with smoke from afar as they ensured that chaos didn't spill out into the bay. Even at miles out, the shot of musket and scream of women and children went from sun up to sundown on the 22nd of January. Sensing that aid may not be coming, word reached the rest of the world that on the 24th of January, Heinrich von Luck was announced an Honorary General of the Jarelian Army of Independence by the Jarelian Nationalist Committee. Two days later he marched 4,500 Jarelians, about 300 of whom marched without a rifle at all, toward the city of Karantas, the provincial governorship of the Jarelian region. There, newly returned from the Anvegad Military Academy was Captain Hauthan Ronnstein of the 13th Blackcoats Regiment. The [b]Battle Of Karantas[/b] (1836) was less a battle and more of a rout. The Jarelians marched under withering fire by a Blackcoats Regiment that had split in two to create a deadly crossfire. Within thirty minutes 1,200 Jarelians lay dead in the street, the rest fleeing on foot. Captain Ronnstein however had anticipated such a maneuver and ordered a company of cavalry quartered in the city to hunt them down. Less than 30 escaped alive. Jarelian nationalist Heinrich von Luck was captured alive, and in newspapers across the Old World it was reported he would be hung for treason on the first day of Summer, in front of anyone who would attend in the capital city. Under supplied, the Jarelians never had a chance. The traditionalist monarchies of the world had spoken out and maintained the status quo. In a compelling address to the people however, Heinrich von Luck's wife Cynthia pleaded for the nations of the world to have sympathy for the Jarelian cause. She cited the destruction of Kurdas, not only a home of Jarelians but a home to many more millions that was ruthlessly destroyed by an oppressive government. [The [b]Jarelian Independence Movement[/b] has suffered a defeat by the [b]Monarchists of the Second Kingdom of Murelia[/b]] [The Crisis continues] GREAT POWERS OPTIONS: -- [b]Do nothing[/b] (0 Action Points: The Jarelians claim to independence against the traditional powers is well deserved, but we simply cannot afford to send aid at this time) -- [b]We must aid the oppressed![/b] (Choose 1-3 Action Points): We must send food, supplies and especially guns to ensure the Jarelian independence movement is successful. The Murelian King must not be allowed to oppress others. -- [b]We support the King [/b](Choose 1-3 Action Points): The rightful king of the Second Kingdom of Murelia has Divine Right to rule and protect his people against those that would cause harm. The reactionaries must be put down and the revolution must be halted. [GREAT POWERS SUBMIT MONTHLY ACTIONS and CRISIS OPTIONS to my PRIVATE MESSAGES. The 3 points you receive per month are the same for this crisis. So aiding the Crisis will also mean less actions to focus on yourself. Whichever faction receives the most support after [b]3 Months[/b] will win the crisis. (OOC NOTE: While this crisis is for the Great Powers, Regional Powers may chime in with their perspective as well, though their support would not be considered large enough to make a difference.) [center]----------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/center] The Grand Kingdom of Schulstein had indeed lost a civil war, ultimately resulting in the autonomous creation of the Duchy of Fulric. It was however a "war fought by broken men who made broken claims," said by the Grand King Marwick Ludwig Donitz IV. Refuting the forfeiture of those claims, he reinstated territorial claims on Fulric in 1804, attempting to reclaim them in 1807 and 1809, failing both times. With the institution of those claims, tensions between Fulric and Schulstein grew quickly. 1836 was no exception. When the Skeptonian diplomat met in the Schulstein capital of Vernburg with a Fulric diplomat to boot, Grand King Marwick Ludwig Donitz IV was impressed. He had initially assumed that Skeptoni had seen the righteousness of Schulstein's claims and came to assert them. It wasn't to be so. On January 29th, the Skeptonian [b]Treaty of Amalgamation[/b] was presented to the Grand King, who rejected it within minutes of reading it. He retorted with fiery rhetoric, spouting off that Skeptonian hegemony might extend to the seas but never to the land. The diplomats, as was customary, were allowed to stay but were not admitted to see the Grand King again. Five days later on February 3rd, a Schulstein party reached Wrenclaw, the Boletarian capital. Among them was Grand King Marwick Ludwig Donitz IV himself, in regal and warmly attire. He requested an audience with the Boletarian monarch, King Alorik II immediately, citing both the fact he was summoned by the king earlier in the month and on his own behalf. He made no apology to his tardiness but got on right to the point, a diplomat producing the Skeptonian draft of the [b]Treaty of Amalgamation[/b] and citing Skeptonian hegemony. "Where Fulric and Skeptoni have united because they are weak, Schulstein and Boletarian should ally because they are strong," Grand King Marwick Ludwig Donitz IV announced. Already with a strong friendship, Boletarian-Schulstein relations needed to solidify is Skeptonian influence was to be kept out of the central lands of the continent. [Grand King Marwick Ludwig Donitz IV of the [b]Grand Kingdom of Schulstein[/b] requests an [b]Alliance[/b] with the [b]Boletarian Commonwealth[/b], citing Skeptonian hegemony in the region] [center]----------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/center] [b]Harko, Capital of Kunenia, Kingdom of Kunenia[/b] Queen Emily IV of the Kingdom of Kunenia received the message from King Zach Conrad of the Empire of Zellon, and although finding it odd, eventually requested that if he were interested in having dinner, that he come instead to the Kunenian island. Emily figured it a matter of politics, and intended not to be dismissive of the matter, but simply could not find the time to simply leave the island whenever another monarch wished to share a cup of tea. [center]----------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/center] [b]Northern Nehalania[/b] The [b]Via Thennia[/b] had taken three years to build. It was the first completed railroad in the world. Comprising over six hundred and fifty miles of tracks, the railroad ran from the Nehalanian capital, to three separate cities and to the Thennian border, where an end track had been established. It was promised to the Thennian government when it's own modernization program began that it could be linked up to provide fast moving travel between the nations. Interestingly enough the Nehalanian Royal Military announced after a brief three week investigation that in times of war the railroad could be used for ferrying troops around the nation. Though moving mostly in a North-South route along the coast, more railway could be laid in the future to expedite the process. [center]----------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/center] [b]Northern Serranthia[/b] The [b]Aegir Expedition[/b] took approximately a week and a half to arrive. 750 scientists, naturalists, botanists and meteorologists landed along what was to be called the Fenrir River, and with their guard of 100 Royal Skeptonian soldiers, moved quietly inland. They made much progress, though the terrain got incredibly tough and two of the expedition became incredibly ill and had to be escorted back to the ship. As much could be told, the thriving forest would provide an excellent source of lumber, and the natives seemed non-existent, though the commander of the Royal Skeptonian company that escorted them was skeptical, citing several times his advanced scouts had reported seeing movement in the foliage. Besides lumber, several geologists with the group report that there is likely copper and tin within the mountain range off to the east, judging by it and the earth's makeup at the base of the mountains.