Chairman Stein

The World as We Know It [19th-20th Century Nation RP]

The Osladian Empire

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The 1900 General Election Results & The Railway Act

April 10th was a stressful day for the political environment of Oslad. Across the nation the masses came to their voting places and cast their ballots for their local representatives. In anxious silence, all parties waited for the results. In a unsurprising turn of events, by the 12th the ballots had been counted and the Unionists had scored a victory. In a Duma of 518 seats, the Unionists dominated with 270 to the Liberal-Democrats 223, losing over 25 seats to the Kadets and Agrarian Front, who both made gains themselves. It seemed the people had lost faith in the age of liberalism and Selidov's 'words over actions' style of leadership. However, the election wasn't over yet.

While the Union party had won the public vote, there was a crisis over who would lead the party. While the moderates on the left side of the bench called for Palkowski to lead, and thus keep a status-quo in leadership, the traditionalists rallied behind Count Yegorov and called for his ascendance to ministership. An assembly of Union leadership was called in Oslograd and a new vote would have to be held. It took three days of fierce debate and policy declarations from both Palkowski and Yegorov before a vote was made and the decision of leadership final. Of the 270 Union ministers, 128 voted for Palkowski and 142 for Yegorov. It was then final, The Count of Black would become Prime Minister of the Empire.

Results of the General Election and the Union Party Assembly of 1900.

In the early morning of the 17th of April, Count Yegorov stepped into the Duma to thunderous applause from his traditionalist clique, and to silent glares from the moderates and Liberal-Democrats. Standing at the Prime Ministerial Podium, in front of both the Duma, the press, and the Tsar himself, Yegorov made his inaugural address.

"Fellow members of the Duma and our divine holy Tsar, I am humbled to be in front of you all today. As a youth, I was never a man of the right, my position was always on the left, and now it is at the centre of Osladian politics. I swear, to God and all of the Sladic people, that I will hold the title of Prime Minister with humility and honor. I will preside over this Duma, voted for by the people, to the best of my ability and will steer the vessel of this Empire away from the military and political disasters of the previous decade."

At this comment, an uproar occurred within the Liberal-Democrat bench and was countered by applause and cheers from the Unionist bench.

"And I will lead our holy Empire to victory in the ongoing war against the Zellonian menace and their mad King. I will lead an administration of action, no longer can our Empire falter to the sidelines while other nations walk over us economically and politically. We must return this crumbling nation to her roots, where we first lit and carried the flame of civilization to the savage lands of Boletaria, Loren, and Tangary. Together, here in this Duma, we shall relight the flame that the ages shall not again extinguish. We shall guard that scared flame, my friends, until it illuminates all the Empire and lights the path of mankind. Hail Oslad, and god save the Tsar."

After his speech, Yegorov privately assembled a new cabinet. Within only a few hours a large portion of the former cabinet had been purged, aside from Yegorov himself retaining his position as minister of economics and the interior and the recently appointed minister of naval affairs Renzo Carrano who remained on a contract to retain his position. Taking over for Count Rusak as the minister of foreign affairs was Lavro Blokov, an Osloadian businessman and moderate Unionist who was only chosen simply to keep the moderates at peace with Yegorov's administration. Taking over the minister of the army position was retired major general Semyon Teterev, a long time ally of Yegorov's and a traditionalist in both politics and military affairs. Together the two men would be replacing the former liberal-democrat members and firmly establishing a Unionist cabinet for the new administration.

Left: Industrial mogul Lavro Blokov
Right: Major-General Semyon Teterev

The first act of the new government, after the cabinet reshuffle and a budget had been agreed upon, was the announcement of a new national railroad starting in the only industrial city of Tangary, Volovichi, and connecting the city to the coastal trade hub of Toboskoy and then Oslograd. The system, titled the 'Volovichi-Toboskoy Line' would establish a single connecting railway across the Tangarian steppe and would be the first of many industrialization efforts done by the Yegorov administration to bring his home province and the province of Loren to the same levels as Boletaria and Oslad-proper.

Starting in May, minister of naval affairs and Loren-national Renzo Carrano put forward his plan on how to utilize the naval budget to the Duma. In his plan, which had been signed off by Yegorov, Blokov, and the head of the admiralty Kozminski, Carrano prioritized the establishment of a new merchant-marine fleet and the expansion of the Oslograd and Toboskoy dockyards to better suit the construction of a modern navy. The price was hefty, but the Duma unanimously passed the naval budget request and arrangements for the building of new merchant vessels and the expansion of the Oslograd and Toboskoy imperial naval yards would be put into place by the beginning of Summer.

---

The Zellonian Shakeup

Being a military man himself, and arranging his cabinet to be largely military men as well, Yegorov demanded to be allowed participation in the organization and planning on the Zellonian front. Field Marshal Bogolov, despite utterly despising Yegorov's narcissism and ego, allowed the prime minister to attend meetings of the High Command in Oslograd and participate. In a bold move, the Count arrived with his entourage of military lackeys and essentially took over the meeting himself. Yegorov was shocked at the way Selidov had allowed the High Command to simply do as they wished, and decried the horrid state of affairs after personally seeing the disorganization and lack of clarity that was the supply-lines of the army group in Zellonia. After being briefed on the situation, Yegorov agreed to allow General Yakovich to retain his position as leader of the army group, despite originally claiming that Vasiliy Tokorev should take the position, and put forward his cabinet's ideas for the High Command to see. Of all of the suggestions, borderline demands, made by Yegorov, Boglov was personally impressed by Yegorov's plan to establish a Supply Corp and a new branch of the field army specifically trained to organize and establish proper supply lines for both the Zellonian front and all future war situations. Of course, Yegorov's idea came with a price. If a supply corp was to be established, it would be run by Yegorov's military clique, and not the Osladian High Command.

Arguing was ultimately pointless, as a request to establish a new branch of the armed forces would have to be authorized by both the minister of the army and the prime minister, both of whom obviously had come up with this idea to begin with. Thus Bogolov folded and accepted the Prime Minister's request. Starting in mid-April a new corp would be established and recruited for, the Osladian Supply Corp. A branch recruiting educated officers to assist in establishing and minimizing ration waste and losses while also ensuring the maximum usage of all available rations on a front. By June, ration officers would be sent to the front and would work as a form of military police, ensuring that rations were always being watched and that there was no cutting off the top or theft of vital foodstuffs and ammunition by soldiers and officers alike. Some within the High Command viewed this as Yegorov's first step in a full takeover of the military; and Bogolov feared they were right.

IC Response-Zellonian-Osladian War

Establish the Osladian Supply Corps (6 Military Points): [+5,000 free Supplies/Week].

The World as We Know It [19th-20th Century Nation RP]

The Osladian Empire

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Early Morning Barrage

Nikolai woke suddenly, his chapped lips taking in a lung full of cold Zellonian air. Looking around him, and up at the grey sky above, Nikolai could tell he had only slept a few hours at best. Ever since his regiment was moved to the front, and assigned to the god forsaken offensive, he didn't think he'd slept a full night. At around five A.M every morning the artillery brigades would begin their morning ritual of firing at the city and receiving return fire from the groggy Zellonian field guns, wherever they were. To say this made sleep impossible was an understatement, as by five thirty every man was awake and preparing for the day. Mornings in the trenches were an odd spectacle, soldiers stepping over each other as they woke to the morning artillery fire, gulping down the morning water ration before it was stolen by someone else, and silently waiting for the morning whistle.

However, today the whistle didn't come. Every day for a month, that damned whistle sounded and a new bloodbath started. A uncomfortable silence remained, and the men looked amongst each other for answers. Finally, by six A.M, a runner came down the muddy trench line.

"The 4th Oslograd Guard and the 8th Kurakka Guard are being relocated further north up the line. Orders are to pack up and move immediately. Your position here will be taken up by the 5th Volovichi." The young boy stumbled out, grabbing a fistful of the muddy trench wall to balance himself as he breathed.

Pytor, the new Podpraporshchik of Nikolai's squadron, was the first to respond. Rising to his feet and removing the pipe he had stolen from a dead Zellonian from his mouth. "Aye, inform the Polkovnik the 22nd squadron will begin moving immediately."

The runner quickly nodded and continued down the trench, continuing to yell his message.

"Alright then, new orders it sounds like. Start packing up whatever personal items you've still got and start marching up the trench, least Denisovich hear we're slacking." Pytor said nonchantly, sticking the dead man's pipe back between his lips and slapping his recently acquired officer's cap onto his head. Nikolai remembered when Pytor had been promoted to Podpraporschik, it was an immediate promotion after Roman died to a Zellonian barrage during their counter offensive. Had it really only been a month?

"Come on Nikolai, move it. Holding up the line is the last thing we need right now." Maksim, a gruff older man with a likely unapproved beard, grumbled as he pushed past Nikolai, shoving the smaller man aside.

Within the hour, the entire regiment would be again moved. Their purpose for doing so unknown, however word quickly spread throughout the line that General Yakovich was attempting something new in the face of morale and supplies plummeting.

Osladian Field Guns in the spring of 1900.

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The Osladian Empire

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The Battle for Kreogen

The February Offensive had taken her toll on Osladian forces, and the Polkovniks from all divisions participating in the offensive voiced concerns of weak morale among the lower ranks and supplies in a equally miserable state. However the high command had given Yakovich an order, and high command was not a group to accept failure. In a written statement sent out to the Polkovniks of all divisions involved, General Yakovich wrote the following.

"I understand the concerns among the lower officers, and I can assure all of the sergeantry that we will be recieving resupply and reinforcement by the month's end. However, as Field Marshal Bogolov and our holy Tsar himself have requested, the city of Kreogen must be taken and the offensive must continue. But remain faithful, fellow Slads of Holy Oslad, we will prevail and once this city falls we will be returning as heroes to Oslograd and Voskreya by Summer! Hail Oslad, and God save the Tsar!

- General Gregory Yakovich, General of the Voskreya Northern Army Group"

The message was met with a mixture of disgruntled sighs, coffin humor, and outright protest among the sergeant-class of the army. However, the order remained, and come the dawn of the 23rd the whistle would have to be blown and the offensive would continue. Quietly, General Yakovich quickly dispatched a new telegram to Oslograd High Command requesting immediate allocation of extra supplies and manpower come March.

An Osladian soldier prays at the grave of a fallen comrade in cold Zellonia, circa 1900.

IC Response-Zellonian-Osladian War

The February Offensive

We Must Take Kreogen: Kreogen is the key. If we take it, we rob them of a vital supply depot. Our men can rest in warm beds, not foxholes. If we complete the Kreogen Pocket, the war may be over before summer. (11 Military Points)

The World as We Know It [19th-20th Century Nation RP]

The Osladian Empire

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The 1900 State Duma Election

A war-time election was the last thing Selidov had expected only a year before the new century. With soldiers marching off to the front and returning in pine boxes, a sense of melancholy hung over the entire season. Selidov began immediately with the path he had used in the past, going through the industrialized cities of Oslograd, Dukovsta, and Toboskoy preaching freedom of trade, speech, religion, and now a quick end to the war. Needless to say, Selidov had become unpopular even among his fellow city-dwellers, and the consistent military failures under his administration in handling Zellonia brought many angry widows to his events. In one incident, a group of grieving women brought banners bearing the names of the men they had lost in the war, holding it high above their heads while Selidov could only look on and continue speaking.

Within the Liberal-Democratic party, rumors began to spread about a replacement for Selidov before the election began in earnest. Among the candidates, the most likely to succeed Seldiov as party leader would be Pavel Kryukov, a fellow senior statesman. Born in Oslad Proper into a middle-class family, Kryukov attended university in Boletaria a decade after her addition into the Empire in 1865. During the Karumi War, Kryukov served in the 22nd Oslograd Musketeers and attained the rank of Podpraporshchik, or 'Sergeant First Class' in common Continental, and permanently injured his left leg after taking a Karumi bullet in his left thigh, snapping the bone. After the war he finished his education in political theory and economics and joined the Liberal Democrats in his home city. Kryukov gained his seat in 1882 and has held it ever since, only coming close to a defeat against Union party leader Leonard Palkowski in 1888.

Pavel Kryukov, veteran statesman and Liberal Democrat, circa 1902.

While the Liberal-Democrats bickered. The Union sprang into action and began a fierce campaign. Competing in the cities, especially Boletaria, was Boletarian national Leonard Palkowski. The moderate-Unionist ran a strong campaign of "no peace without reparations" and denounced the actions committed by the Osladian army as "the negligence of the Liberal-Democrats not keeping the dog on the leash". His more anti-war rhetoric led to Palkowski being decried by the Yegorov-camp of his own party, calling Palkowski 'Selidov in a mask' and further stating that Yegorov was the only true Unionist candidate. The results showed otherwise, however, and Palkowski's general denouncement of military atrocities and goal to bring a 'strong yet firm peace' with Zellonia and warming relations with the Radenians did win the moderate much support among the more liberally minded citizens of Oslograd and Dukovsta.

On the fringe of the Union, the Count of Black rallied his supporters and held marches in Volovichi. Black-shirted Unionists carrying portraits of the Count and marching in military goosestep paraded through the streets, calling Yegorov the man who would save the holy Empire and crush the 'degenerate Zellonians'. Yegorov called the war a holy crusade and stated the "the northern lands of winter are plagued with the ranting of a possessed mad king". Though popular, Yegorov's war rhetoric won him little favors in the populated cities and towns where so many had already lost loved ones; however, he did win the military's support and promised stronger support for the armed forces in "liberating Zellonia from savagery".

---

The Southern Breakthrough


Osladian soldiers in Zellonia, circa 1900.

While at home politicians continued to campaign, the northern skies filled with the lights of artillery fire. After 2 months of failed attempts to break through the Zellonian lines, the inexperienced 'grim reaper' Gregory Yakovich had done what he had set out to. Early in January Osladian soldiers finally stormed the Zellonian trenches and, without proper armaments, slaughtered or captured the Zellonian enemy. Raiding the abandoned Zellonian field hospitals and kitchens for any worthwhile supplies, spirits were high that the war was finally turning in their favor.

However celebration was short lived however. Shortly after the breakthrough had been made, the Zellonian armed forces began an immediate counter attack in the hopes of repulsing the Osladians. Fortunately, the better armed and prepared Osladian forces held their ground and thousands of unarmed Zellonian soldiers would die of their injuries in the frozen fields of Zellonia in a incident forever remembered as the 'Black Weekend'. At home, the incident was cheered by Yegorov and the military high command as an astounding success, with the road to Vorl and victory now opened wide for the Osladian army. Seeing success, the Osladian high command permitted more soldiers to be deployed north to the strait and then cross over into Zellonia proper. It seemed that among the soldiery, victory meant only more death and killing to come.

Despite these victories a new problem had risen. Yes, a breakthrough had been made and initial attempts to dislodge the Osladians had failed. While the Zellonian army was not exactly intimidating to the Osladian military elite, there was one group of men that brought them nothing but headaches. The Memoital volunteer corp, a band of comrades from the small island nation of Memoital fighting alongside their northman brethern to repulse 'the Sladic threat'. The volunteer corp had grown to be a pain in the side of the Osladian army; armed and trained, the Memoitals were miles ahead of their Zellonian counterparts and whenever encountered would always cause immense casualties among the Osladian side. Yakovich, in a general report back to Oslograd in early December, wrote the following of the Memoitals.

"If the Zellonians are a culture of stubborn fools then the Memoitals are a culture of warriors. Never in my years as both a soldier and a general have I seen men such as these hardened northmen. With the rage of Tangary horse riders and the speed of the damn horses themselves this 'volunteer corp' is tearing through my men. I fear thousands more will fall before we can eradicate this nuisance holding us from Kreogen."

The question became, if the Memoitals moved south to attempt their own assault on the breakthrough, could it be held in earnest by the Osladians? And if so, how?

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The Osladian Empire

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The Battle of the Winter's Solstice

Gregory had forgotten the last time the snow had stopped. For days now it seemed to just mindlessly fall, careless in the chill wind while all around it the world tore itself asunder. In 30 days 19 thousand men had died, 600 every day, yet the world remained virtually unchanged in the absence of those lives. It didn't matter, every soldier that met his end in these god-forsaken Zellonian fields died in the name of the Tsar and his nation; and truly was there a better fate than that?

"General, sir!"

Before he could ponder any further, a young voice pierced his thoughts and brought Gregory back to reality. The flap to his tent had been opened and snow fell idly onto the hard ground. A soldier had entered, his red and sweating face made him look almost like a child, and held a telegraph note in his hands.

"Orders from Field Marshal Bogolov himself, sir." The boy ejected, anxiously holding out the note for his commanding officer.

Gregory took hold of the parchment and began reading. He was unsure what was so urgent, as the orders he had been given prior remained unchanged. March east, take Vorl, win the war. Of course, the old bastard Bogolov had no idea the conditions of Zellonian winter and the underestimated fighting spirit of a poverty-stricken nation facing defeat. Even Gregory himself had underestimated the Zellonians, for even after he allowed the razing of Nervinton the populace remained insubordinate and troublesome. Truly, if there was ever a culture built around stubbornness, it was that of the Zellonians.

"Yes, thank you soldier. Dismissed." Gregory said off handedly, at first forgetting the young soldier had been there at all. However, before the boy could escape back into the camp, Gregory quickly stopped him. "Inform the men preparing for deployment to the front that I will be speaking before their departure."

The boy-soldier nodded quickly and departed, Gregory couldn't help but feel pity for the runners in these winter conditions. He had already seen some collapse from the strain, others falling over unseen obstacles in the snow; it was truly a hellish task. Gregory sighed, rubbing his forehead with one hand while he tucked the note away into his jacket with the other. Rising to his feet he departed from his tent and began the trek across the snowy headquarters of the Army Group; for as far as the eye could see smoke clouds grew in the distance as hundreds of campfires and cooking stations were alight, the General couldn't help but wonder how many of the lives in these tents would be lost by this time next year. Of the faces he saw passing, how many would not return to the shores of the Empire? Never before had he had thoughts such as these, hell he'd never seen real war before now, and couldn't help but feel the stress of his position beginning to weight upon him.

---

"So, anyone back at home waiting on you Nikolai?" Pytor asked, smiling wide as he tucked away the note his fiance had sent him into his winter coat.

"Of course, my mother and sister are at home. In all honestly, I worry about them a lot. Mother is sickly, and poor Lada tries her best but with school and all... I worry." Nikolai replied, his own smile fading as he stared absent minded down the dirt road ahead.

His regiment, the 4th Oslograd Guard, had not yet seen deployment to the front. Now, after a month of seeing the frontliners coming back in smaller and smaller numbers, it was his turn for the fire. Nikolai would be lying if he didn't feel a black pit boiling in his stomach like the coals that lit the campfires at night. Even worse, the General would be making a speech to the regiment before they departed. Had he signed their death warrants already? The thought disturbed him.

"Look alive! General Yakovich is coming this way!" Borislav yelled, grabbing his rifle and pushing himself off the ground as the men quickly scrambled to assemble and look orderly for the General.

Nikolai had never seen Yakovich in person, though he had heard that the General was surprisingly young for his position. It was uncommon in the Osladian army for generals to be younger than 50, and Yakovich was barely 40 himself. How he had attained this position no one could say, though some theorized his family must have ties to the Tsar or, if the army was lucky, Yakovich was some sort of genius tactician. The General was indeed young, and walked with an air of confidence as he turned the tent line and began his approach to the assembled men. A small black stubble and a short army permissed haircut, the young General hardly looked any different from the rest of them.

Stopping at the center of the line, the General turned to face the assembly and the soldiers immediately straightened themselves. Yakovich smiled and began to speak.

"At ease. Soldiers of the 4th Oslograd, today you are being dispatched to the front lines to face our long hated enemy. The Zellonian menace, and her lapdop Memoital volunteers, are the bane of our Empire's existence. Remember, it was the Zellonians who brought aggression to our doorstep, and it was their mad King that refused offers of surrender when we came to their shores. Their King has watched his soldiers die without even a weapon in their hands and he still believes he can win this war. Gentlemen, let us prove the Zellonian madman wrong. This war has long been in our favor, and it will continue to be in our favor as we fly the flag of our holy and righteous Tsar and Empire over the ruins of Nervinton, Vorl, and Zeel. I want you all to remember, our empire was not forged by only the Tsar and God; but by the will of the Osladian soldier and his divine right to victory and glory. Your forefathers stood where you stood, on the soil of a foreign and hostile land, and made it their own. Zellonia will fall, much like the Karumi before them and the Boletarian kings before that. For it is the right of our people and our righteous god to smite our enemies. Never forget your ancestors and your birthright. Hail Oslad, and God save the Tsar! Dismissed gentlemen."

The World as We Know It [19th-20th Century Nation RP]

The Osladian Empire

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The War of 1867

The War of 1867, known in Karum as the Osladian War and in Oslad as The Karumi War, was the final nail in the coffin of 'Great Karum' and the end of Karumi dominion over the Seronans and Tangarians, and it was the rise of Oslad as a great power. However, the history of this conflict stretches much farther back then the 1860s. 30 years prior Tsar Dominik I had just finished his conquest of the Tangarian horse lords and quelled the last unrest south in Serona, beheading the upstart Prince Valeriev, thus fulfilling his ambition of 'The Greater Karumi Empire'. With his quest fulfilled, Dominik gave himself the title of 'Tsar-Domnitor' and declared a new age for the Karumi people. In the following years the Karumi state would begin resettlement programs in Tangary and Serona, attempting to colonize the regions and thus expand their cultural influence over the continent. The results of these programs were likely not what the Tsar-Domnitor had expected, and instead of a steady resettlement of Karumi colonists with little resistance, any ethnic-Karumi that attempted to settle in either Tangary or Serona was met with fierce resistance.

Artist's rendition of Karumi colonists in Tangary, circa 1842.

These attempts at colonization came to a head in 1856, 20 years after the original conquest of Tangary and Serona, when an entire colonist caravan was slaughtered by Tangarian cossacks while the colonists rested. The Karumi government immediately reacted and martial law was implemented in the towns of Tangary, with the royal constabulary arresting and outright executing anyone who protested. In 1857 a Tangarian delegation of horse lords and refugees journeyed to Oslograd and pleaded with then Tsar Aleksandr II to support the Tangarians for their independence. At the time the Tsar rejected the Tangarian request, citing the Osladian friendship with Karum and the history of Tangarian 'brutality', thus the Tangarian host returned to their occupied homeland with little faith in the future. However, the tides of turn in favor of the Seronans and Tangarians in an event known as 'Dominik's folly'. A letter sent by the Tsar-Domnitor himself meant for the regional govenor of Tangary was stolen in a raid on the royal carriage by Tangarian bandits in 1865. In the letter, the Tsar-Domnitor expresses disdain with their alliance to the 'weak Osladians' and instead a growing interest in the Osladian province of Loren and a 'Karumi navy'. The letter made it's way to Oslograd and the new tsar, Tsar Nikolas III, was outraged at Karum's treachery. In a public statement spread throughout the continent, the young Tsar declared Tsar-Domnitor Dominik to be a 'treacherous lech' and officially cut all ties with Greater Karum. A year later, likely with under the table Osladian support, the Tangarian horse lords made their move.

On the morning of the 16th of February, as the snow still fell across the steppe, a Tangarian host under chief Kazymyr Tarasyuk rallied the town of Nevidny into a revolt against the Karumi constabulary. The mayoral house was raided and looted of goods and the Karumi police in the town were killed in a vicious attack. In the town square Tarasyuk read a declaration of independence from the Karum Empire to a patriotic crowd. Hours after, the Osladian Imperial Army crossed the border and a declaration of war was sent to Salaz, the Osladians were marching into Tangary.

Artist's depiction of a young Tsar Nikolas III at the battle of Buraclia, circa 1869.

Over the following months the Osladian Imperial Army, under the leadership of Tsar Nikolas III and Field Marshal Viktor Todorov, fought a hard campaign against the Imperial Karumi Army. Starting at the crossing of the River Lus and the siege of Buraclia fifty thousand Osladian soldiers faced off against thirty thousand Karumi within the city. Over the course of five days the Osladian forces managed to cross the river after countless skirmishes with Karumi skirmishers and begin a hard pressed siege of the city, costing thousands of Osladian lives. However the city did fall and with it opened a road to Luska and Fallum. Meanwhile, far to the south-east of the Osladian theater, a revolt in Serona grew to become a rebellion against the overstretched Karumi army, and the declaration of a Seronan principality came in June of 1867.

Seeing defeat as inevitable as the Imperial Karumi Army fled over the Tangary border into Karum, and the Seronan's beginning to push them from their own province, Tsar-Domnitor Dominik watched the empire he had forged only 30 years prior begin to collapse around him. In a final act of defiance to his enemies, the elderly Tsar-Domnitor threw himself from the Spring Palace in Salaz and ended his life, leaving his son of 26 Michel in control as Tsar-Domnitor Michel I. Shortly after Dominik's death, the young Michel was forced by his deceased father's council to wave the white flag and seek peace with the Osladians. The demands were brutal, but had the war lasted any longer there may not had been a Tsardom of Karum to rule over at all. So, in January of 1868 Michel I, Nikolas III, and then Prince-Elector Oksanen signed the Treaty of Salaz, marking the official independence of the Principality of Serona and the Tangarian Hetmanate, though the Tangarian state was little more than a Osladian protectorate. Thus came an end to Greater Karum, and the dreams of the Tsar-Domnitor Dominik. Though of course, Michel I would go on to attempt to follow in his father's footsteps...

---

Oslad at War

As war raged on in the north, life remained much the same in Oslograd for the average citizen. While the already enlisted and deployed soldiers marched to the northern coast, the reservists and high ranking general staff remained in their stations, continuing the ever-lengthening Osladian military bureaucracy that came with a multicultural empire. Musicians still wrote songs, poets still wrote poems, and lovers still quarreled. However, outside the industrialized capital of the Empire, things had changed rather suddenly. Once quiet fishing towns had suddenly been given the task of providing for sometimes hundreds of soldiers, and cities like Voskreya, Shurga, Dukovsta, and even Kurakka began to fill in the weekends with soldiers off duty coming to gamble and enjoy their free time. Indeed, life for the northern Boletarians and Osladians had changed.

But while the soldiers drilled, gambled, and mobilized the navy was busy at work. After their humiliation in the Zeelian strait both the Imperial Navy and the Selidov government had become the butt of many jokes within the military and political right, with Grushanin especially receiving perhaps unworthy hatred by many patriots. However critics were silenced when the second battle came and Grushanin once again proved his honor and integrity as an officer of the Imperial Navy. Three vessels, two of which being miniture pre-dreadnoughts in themselves, being sunk to the bottom was an honor and Grushanin returned to Oslograd's harbor as a hero. Reporters demanded photos of the Admiral and his vessel, artists sent requests for portraits, and sailors told jokes of Grushanin 'spending more time chasing Zellonian ships than sinking them'. Selidov and his twilight government could breathe a sigh of relief for now, their legitimacy was secure for a time a time... Until the alliance.

Rear Admiral Aleksandr Grushanin, circa 1900.

In early September the Republic of Kalpia requested permission to join the Osladian side of the Zellonian conflict. Selidov, seeing no real trouble in allowing a fellow nation affected by the northern King's banditry to join the Empire's struggle, accepted the request and orders were sent from the Duma to the Military Academies and Offices informing the general staff and the admiralty that they were to plan to meet with and plan in coalition with the Kalpian armed forces. Needless to say, Selidov was unprepared for the storm he had brought upon himself.

In a public statement Union traditonalist Count Yegorov lambasted the Prime Minister as 'weak' and 'requiring the aid of a weaker nation to take on a second rate kingdom'. In the Duma mocking names for Selidov continued, and the image of Selidov as old and weak were widespread. However within the moderate camp of the Union party, Palkowski was quick to defend Selidov and remind his own party that it was a Union prime minister that called upon the aid of Tyro-Redania during the unrest of '36, when the liberal revolutions of the Continent were in full swing and the young Tsardom was on the verge of civil war. However the voice of reason within the party was outspoken by the Yegorov camp and his military allies. It seemed as each day passed and victory was not achieved, the military lost more and more faith in Selidov and his supporters.

The World as We Know It [19th-20th Century Nation RP]

The Osladian Empire

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The Zellonian Crisis & The Strait War

The summer of 1899 marked what many say was the final nail in the coffin of the Selidov administration. Confident in the Imperial Navy's abilities Selidov sent decorated Rear Admiral Aleksandr Grushanin to end the crisis and restore the status-quo over the Osladian strait. While no statement had been made directly to the Duma, in private Selidov had assured his closest allies that "There will be no negotiation with tyrants". After a month of political and military silence in what would become 'The Silent June', Grushanin set sail with 30 vessels prepared for a quick end to Zellonia's act of maritime aggression. By dusk, the fleet would return 4 vessels less, with two more out of commission for the near future. Needless to say, the Osladian defeat in the Zeelian-Osladian strait was political suicide for Selidov and by the morning of the 16th the Unionists had rallied and from their section of the Duma shouting was all that could be heard.

In the following hours a parliamentary crisis was on the hands of the Selidov administration and demands from both sides of the isle meant an answer would be needed that very day. In a emergency meeting with his cabinet a panicked Selidov demanded the counsel of his government. Yegorov was in arms, as expected, and called for an immediate declaration of war against 'the Zeelian dogs' and their 'cripple king'. On the other side of the table, the Grand Admiral Manfred Kozminski apologized for the failures of his officer corp and cited a lack of funding and support of the navy as a cause of this defeat. After hours of debriefing on the results of the Zeelian-Osladian strait skirmish and pressure from the military and nobility within his cabinet, Selidov returned to the Duma with an answer to a panicked and outraged Duma.

"Members of the Imperial State Duma, after much consideration and discussion with the members of my cabinet. I, Demian Selidov, shall officially announce that as of seven twenty-eight in the evening of July 16th, the Osladian Empire has entered a state of war with the Kingdom of Zellonia. From this moment forward all ties with the Zellonian state are severed and their diplomats will be requested to peacefully leave Oslograd and return to their homeland. I have put my full faith into the admiralty and general staff of our Imperial Armed Forces and I call upon all fellow nations to stand against the tyranny and aggression presented by the Zellonian Kingdom. God save the Tsar, and hail Oslad."

The Imperial State Duma, circa 1900.

Upon this announcement the Union seats came to life in a roar of celebration and cheers of 'Hail Oslad', 'God save the Tsar', and 'Thank Yegorov', in a sign of protest the Agrarian Front was quick to denounce the move and announced their protest of the Duma by walking out of the hearing and not returning until the war's end, which would not be until after the 1900 General Election. In the hours following the announcement, the evening papers were in chaos with headlines of 'THE EMPIRE AT WAR' and fear pieces such as 'IS YOUR NEIGHBOR A ZELLONIAN?'.

---

The Cold East

With war rising in the west, Prime Minister Selidov began feeling for foreign supporters for the Osladian Empire. After his successes in the Aetorian Spring Ball, Selidov again put his trust in Count Rusak to begin feeling for stronger relations with their eastern sladic brothers in the Tsardom of Radena. Confident as ever, the young Count Rusak was quick to accept the mission and departed for the Kalpian border with haste.

Arriving in late June, Rusak remained confident that he could sway the Raden Tsar with ease; after all, he had won the hearts and minds of his now friends in Tyro-Redania had he not? However, the young Count was in for a cold awakening. Having been raised and tutored in the warm Loren countryside, and spent most of his diplomatic career among the 'high cultured' Tyro-Redanians, Rusak was far from prepared for the straight to the point and no nonsense attitude of the eastern Tsardom. Instead of any preparations, Rusak was brought directly to the Tsar and his council, many of whom were not expecting such a young and fragile looking diplomat.

"The Osladians sent a boy to speak of war." one witness to the event recounted in a letter to a colleague. "The western sladics clearly do not know the culture of our people, the fool even attempted to 'small talk' our Tsar."

With each failed attempt at jest and de-escalating the mood, Rusak only made himself look more and more foolish and child-like in front of the cold eyed Radenians. The final straw was when Rusak moved the conversation away from pleasantries and began to discuss the Osladian Empire's intentions with the Zellonian crisis.

"Of course, my Tsar, once the Empire has mopped up the rabble to the west a land border between our states would economically benefit both of our empires."

This was enough to enrage one of the Tsar's cabinet, who rose to his feet and called the young Rusak a "foolish boy" and that, if it came to it, it would be the Tsardom that would hold Zellonian land, and not Oslad. "Your ships can't survive a mere skirmish yet you speak of conquest?" He decried.

Though by the end of the encounter the mood had settled and, the Tsar admitted, Rusak was not a fool but merely inexperienced. However the damage had been done, and the Tsar obeyed his council. Rusak would leave the eastern Tsardom disgraced and empty handed, a laughing stock among the officer corp of Radena.

The World as We Know It [19th-20th Century Nation RP]

The Osladian Empire

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Oslograd Nights

It was a comfortably warm night, a welcome sight after the harsh winter that seemed to plague the city well into April. Lavrentiy took a final drag from his cigarette and tossed it to the curb as he rounded it, the bar wasn't far from here. Initially Lavrentiy had planned to spend the evening with his fiance, but a runner with a letter baring the black mark changed his plans; now he found himself slinking off to some dingy bar in the canals when he'd much rather be at home, but when he calls it is best to answer.

The bar was inconspicuous and reeked of smoke and liquor even from outside. Stepping inside, Lavrentiy removed his officer's cap and jacket and scanned the interior of the place. Much like outside, the walls were stained and yellowed from abuse and neglect, and a cloud of smoke hung over the ceiling almost concealing it entirely. The bartender was a burly old man who was no doubt a veteran of the Imperial Army, and he eyed Lavrentiy in a interrogative manner as he mechanically wiped a glass.

"You don't look like someone from the canals, pretty boy. What can I get you?" He asked, his voice deep and gravely.

Lavrentiy pondered for a moment, attempting to remember what the note had said before he responded. "A Dark Tangarian, iced."

The bartender nodded and began preparing Lavrentiy's drink. For a moment, he thought he had given the wrong response, cursing at himself for forgetting the phrase. As he slid the drink to him, the bartender quickly leaned in for but a moment and whispered. "Past the bathroom, second door on the right." before grunting and hobbling down the counter to another customer. Lavrentiy smirked and quickly gulped down his drink, god knew he'd need it.

Pushing himself from the bar, he departed towards the bathrooms and acted as though that was his destination. Once out of sight of the other patrons, he quickly marched down the bathroom hallway and knocked twice on the second door on the right, anxiously awaiting a response.

"Bathroom is down the hall, sorry pal." A familiar voice replied in monotone.

"It's Lavrentiy, stop fucking around Lazar." Lavrentiy spat back, his eyes locked down the hall, anxious of some drunk patron stumbling up.

There was a chuckle and the door opened. Lavrentiy stumbled in quickly and the door shut behind him just as quick, Lazar continued to chuckle with a wide smirk on his face.

"That's what you get for being late, Lavrentiy. The Count doesn't like having to wait in these situations you know." He stated, patting the younger officer on the back as he walked towards the round table.

The room was small with a single bulb illuminating the center of the room which housed a large table and chairs. It became apparent this room was some sort of guest lodging that had been converted into a meeting room, likely that evening with the assistance of the bartender. At the table sat Lazar, a Polkovnik with a large bushy brown mustache and receding hairline who also happened to be Lavrentiy's commanding officer; Radomir, a fellow Podpolkovnik likely standing in for Tokorev, a man Lavrentiy didn't know, and finally Count Yegorov himself.

"Good evening, Lavrentiy. We're glad you could make it, Lazar here was beginning to doubt you." Yegorov stated flatly, clearly attempting to jest while his features indicated nothing but annoyance.

"My apologies, sir. Your runner was late in sending his message, I came as quickly as I could." Lavrentiy fumbled in reply, stepping forward and sitting down at the table next to Lazar.

Yegorov nodded, though Lavrentiy doubted he had accepted the apology, and cleared his throat. "Now that everyone is here, it's best we begin. As I'm sure you all are aware, Palkowski intends to block my candidacy to the Union vote for the coming election. As we speak he continues to rally cowards to his ranks, politicians with no knowledge of what it truly takes to lead an empire such as ours. These are men who have not tilled the earth, or marched in the blistering heating or the biting cold. By god, I'd say these are men who would go into shock if they left their ivory towers in Loren and Oslad proper."

As he spoke, Yegorov began to noticeably redden in his face, his teeth gritting and his hands forming fists. However he paused, closing his eyes and taking a breath, and continued.

"Regardless... If Palkowski does indeed steal my candidacy. I must be assured of your continued support, knowing I will retain my position in the Interior Office no matter who wins."

A silence fell over the table. Was Yegorov already admitting defeat with the election still months away? The gathered officers looked at each other for a moment before all nodding. "Of course, sir. General Tokorev would never waver his supp-"

"Tokorev's loyalty is not in question, Radomir. You are only here to ensure he remains aware of new information. Now, what say you Lazar? Can I continue to trust your garrison's loyalty?" Yegorov interrupted, his eyes sharp as daggers as they peered into Lazar's own.

"Yes sir. Without question, the Oslograd garrison will be ready if drastic measures need to be taken." Lazar responded casually, striking a match for his cigarette as he spoke.

Yegorov seemed content with this answer, and his eyes turned to Lavrentiy. "And you, Novikov? Can I continue to rely on your.. Connections, in the foreign office?"

Lavrentiy's stomach dropped, though he wasn't sure why. Was his loyalty in question? He hadn't even been within this... Group, long enough for him to have done anything treasonous. "Of course, Count Yegorov. My brother Leonid and I are trustworthy sir I swear it. Any messages you must send outside the Empire will not be searched by the MVD, I promise." He fumbled, a wave of relief washing over him as Yegorov seemed to smile at this response.

"Good, I think you and your brother will be a valuable asset to our movement, Lavrentiy. Though, be sure you are not tardy in the future yes?" Yegorov replied, his smile widening as he seemed to release a dark chuckle. "Now, onto other matters..."

The World as We Know It [19th-20th Century Nation RP]

The Osladian Empire

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The Counts Spring

The Spring of 1899 was riddled with the successes and influence of the Osladian nobility. In mid-April the Selidov government fell to pressure from Tangarian nobles and the military general staff, and ordered six divisions to be stationed at the Karum-Oslad border in order to 'keep the peace'; to the rest of the world this act was an obvious show of force after the Karumi Tsar boasted of 'restoring Greater Karum', thus the Osladian Imperial Army would show the Tsar to the south that the Tangar steppes would never return to his hands, as their chiefs had bent the knee to Tsar Nikolas.

In the first days of being on the border, a peace seemed to be kept and across the border-range Osladian soldiers established their presence at checkpoints and assisted the already present border security in their tasks. However, a crisis began boiling. The officer given command of the force, a General-leytenant by the name of Pavel Vanko, was a notorious alcoholic and near his forced retirement age. In his files and reports sent back to Oslograd, the elderly general had even forgotten proper titling and forced the general staff to assess his work manually. General Vanko's retirement officially came after a incident at the border in which Osladian soldiers with cultural ties to the Karumi Tsardom deserted their posts en-masse and crossed the border in the dead of night, likely while the old general drank himself to sleep. Enraged by the incident, Provincial Governor and General-leytenant Count Yegorov sent a letter to the Oslograd general staff demanding Vanko's removal and the placement of Vasiliy Tokorev as commander of the Karum-Oslad border forces. With little choice after the P.R disaster, the general staff quickly arranged for General Tokorev, a known stooge to Yegorov's political clique, to take command of the border and officially hand the retirement papers to General Vanko.

While militarily the Spring of 1899 was disastrous for the Empire, diplomatically another Count began to rise to prominence...

---

The Aetorian Spring Ball

To understand the events of the Aetorian Spring Ball, one must first know Count Radzislaŭ Rusak. A Boletarian born in Loren, Count Rusak abandoned his ancestors warrior culture in favor of poetry and the arts. From a young age Radzislaŭ wooed his peers with his language and writings, and throughout his schooling was a notorious romantic and 'playboy'. This personality and charisma would follow the Count well into his 30s and would earn him the position of Foreign Minister to Demian Selidov's Liberal-Democratic government. The youngest of Selidov's ministers, the prime minister intended to test Count Rusak and formally requested he attend the famous Aetorian Spring Ball in his place. For decades the Aetorian Spring Ball was an annual event held in Tyro-Redania and was attended by nobility and politicians from across the Continent; in fact, Tsar Nikolas III met his wife and future Tsarina Aurelia von Kirstein.

The 1899 ball would be held in late April to account for the abnormally long winter season that had hit the Continent that year, and invites to the event were sent weeks in advance to the Serene Empire of Tara, the Dygracian Sultanate, the Osladian Empire, the Tsardom of Karum, the Tsardom of Radena, the Sessauan Empire, and the Zellonian Kingdom. Nobility within Tyro-Radania proper were also expected to be in abundance, with the only group noticeably absent being the Itherian counts and barons.

Nobles and Politicians from Oslad, Tyro-Redania, Tara, and more in Aetoria. Photo circa 1903, retouched by Gérard Houdin.

After introductions and the arrival of the ball's host, Crown Prince Victor von Wolfram, Count Rusak immediately began searching out conversation with Redanian nobility in attendance, as of all non-Osladian nobles the Redanians were the most sympathetic to Oslad. Throughout the night Rusak swayed from conversation to conversation, momentarily stopping to speak with Duchess Maria von Anderle, a meeting many today suspect led to future engagements, before finally meeting the Crown Prince himself. Witness reports are scarce on what was said, but from what can be ascertained the Crown Prince and the young Count spoke for more than an hour on, strangely enough, poetry and their favorite authors. Needless to say, the young Rusak quickly had proven himself an asset to the Selidov government and won favor with more than a few noblemen and women that evening.

While Count Rusak earned favor and his position, other Osladian nobility made appearances. The Tsar and Tsarina made their first public appearance outside of Oslograd in over a year, being met with applause from Osladian nationals and nobility to honor their Tsar. In addition, Count Yegorov had paused his national tour to attend the ball; arriving in his dark coach and dressed entirely in Tangarian robes, the eccentric noble cast an intimidating shadow around himself and spent little time conversing with non-Osladian nobility...

The New World: Fate of Albion II (Remade)

I'd like to be put on the waiting list if that's possible!