Romero

Pro Patria Mori - A Tale of Sailships and Muskets (Still Recruiting)

"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." -Wilfred Owen

Winter of 1801

2nd of October

Unsurprisingly, the 'Suveren Issue', as it has been coined, dominates the conversation all across The Kingdom of Aontas. The catastrophic failure of the meeting between the King and the leaders of the rebellion has been well-documented, and the Kingdom seem's set on approaching the issue from another angle. Rather than dealing with the natives that have turned against them, they approach those who have remained loyal. Any native that didn't participate in the rebellion is promised land grants, an appealing offer. However, there are a strong of problems. The first, is that the Kingdom is in no position to offer land, with the colony still in the grip of chaos. And the second, is that this declaration only further ignites the fires of defiance in the hearts of those who still rebel. If their actions have already condemned them to fall from the Kingdom's graces, why should they stop now? In areas of the colony, open rebellion still rages, and in others, it is only subdued through the brutal actions of the mercenaries.

3rd of October

The fleet of The Empire of Attolia, still fleeing to the east from The Shuren Dynasty, are forced to scupper several of their ships, in order to ensure that some of their more damaged ships, especially their flagship, a formidable First-Rate Ship of the Line, have a crew adequate enough to sail. The progress of the fleet's voyage had to practically grind to a halt as the repairs and decisions are made. When they are complete however, the fleet that sails is far more well prepared for the journey ahead.

5th of October

It appears that it is not only in The Kingdom of Aontas that the 'Suveren Issue' is being discussed. The Republic of Toubres seems to still be considering their offer to help restore peace in the colony of Suveren. Moving a sizable portion of the Western Territories fleet to the docks of Toubrian Rilos, primed to make the short crossing at a moment's notice. They are also quick to send another message to Aontas, offering their immediate assistance in the region.

7th of October

The National Conference of Inventors in The Three City's Republic of Ianian continues to drag on, the greatest minds of the Republic fighting against each other to earn the promised reward. Eventually, a winner emerges, a nobleman by the name of Federigo Ampi from the far flung colony of New Genia. What he produces is the first battery capable of continuously providing an electric current to a circuit. This discovery is groundbreaking, and opens the door to a whole host of other potential discoveries.

9th of October

Keen to continue expanding their colonies in the region, while their rivals continue to seem to ignore the unclaimed land, The Three City's Republic of Ianian sails a large colonial party from it's colony of Resia. The sailors cling to the coastline, moving along it to the west until they find a suitable place to land. In a clear sing of intent, the settlers dub the new land South Iberia. With the close links they already shared with the natives through trade, the process of colonising the region is pain-free.

11th of October

Despite the calls for aid in the region from The Empire of Attolia, both the Kingdom of Jinje and the Attolian East Asia Trading Company are found wanting. Jinje simply can't bring any weaponry to bear that could hope to damage the powerhouse that The Shuren Dynasty has become, and while the Trading Company possesses a formidable private navy, the shareholders of the Company demand good trade, not war, so they are forced to ignore the calls of Attolia, instead preferring to continue trading, albeit with larger escorts for their ships. The Echyan Empire too receives the call, and again, are unable to answer it. They send their deepest regrets, explaining that the majority of their fleet is still tasked with defending the Empire itself, and those ships that could be spared would face the same perilous voyage that Attolia themselves are attempting. They do however off the Attolian fleet sanctuary, if they can make it..

12th of October

Even while one of it's colony seems to be consuming itself, The Kingdom of Aontas still clearly has it's eyes set on the future. With it's efforts to improve it's armies main weapon already having proven itself to be an impressive success, Aontas now turns it's attention towards it's production methods. Specifically, the facilities that produce muskets and cannons are expanded, seemingly being prepared for the Kingdom to become a military power, even if it has to be dragged there.

13th of October

Now that a treaty has descended between The Kingdom of Sescos and The Eternal Hadeen of Dashkatar, the thousands of soldiers The Empire of Attolia, still garrisoned in the territories of Sescos, take quickly to the task of attempting to raise the morale of the population. With the tens of thousands of the nations young men slaughtered in the wars of the last few years, the nation has been struggling to repair the damage done to them. This is not helped by the weakness of the nations current ruler, King Ciro Malas. However, with the action and effort of the Attolian soldiers, spirits are lifted, if only a little.

16th of October

Keen to further strengthen their ties, perhaps ensuring that they have friends to call upon if war continues to spread across Europe, The Republic of Toubres joins with The Redcliff Empire and The Holy Territories of Edoniras. This comes in the form of 'war-games'. From their base in the city of Mussara, the formidable Toubres navy leads the fledgling navies of Redcliff and Edoniras through basic maneuvers and mock warfare. This not only improves relations, creating a sense of camaraderie between the soldiers of the three nations, but it also helps improve the sailors of the burgeoning navies, guided by the careful hand of the experienced Toubrian commanders.

17th of October

With support for their call of condemnation against The Kingdom of Vendsyssel and The Kingdom of Ilastiri failing to gain traction, The Kingdom of Claidor finds itself looking for another way out of it's current struggles. Although The Empire of Rubrus is making good progress against Vendsyssel, Claidor is a crippled nation, the lost land ripping out the Kingdom's burgeoning industrial heartland. With it's own armies bloodied, Claidor cannot lend it's strength to aid Rubrus, but neither does it have the strength to reclaim the lost land from the defending armies of Ilastiri and Vendsyssel. They are instead forced to simply barricade themselves within the cities they still control, and wait for whatever comes next.

19th of October

It appears The Redcliff Empire is a popular friend to have. This time, it is The Hastel Dominions that sends a diplomatic party to Redcliff, attempting to not only increase relations, but also to open up a vital trade route. The Redcliff Empire is happy to accept the offer of trade, it's economy always looking for a welcome boost, and the Empire also tentatively accept the offer of increased relations, although they are hesitant to putting anything official between the two nations, wary of the Dominions apparent warmongering.

20th of October

While The Kingdom of Claidor lingers, The Empire of Rubrus does not. Buoyed with confidence from their successful capture of Norzeg, and secure in the knowledge that The Kingdom of Aontas has shattered the naval strength of The Kingdom of Vendsyssel, General Klavdiy Levin pushes onwards. Two cities remain under Vendsyssel control in the province of Rogosz. The first is the port city, and province capital, of Rosgoz itself. But between General Levin and Rosgoz lies the city of Pives, and it is there that the Rubrus army marches towards. As they march, Empress Alina Romanovna formally requests the aid of the Continental Alliance, calling on The Kingdom of Aontas, The Empire of Attolia and The Echyan Empire.

21st of October

Now that it's fleet has been brought back to at least some idea of combat-ready, the Admiral of The Empire of Attolia, Topi Valtonen, begins to turn his mind away from fleeing, and back to vengeance. Finally making the decision, and still wary of the colossal distance ahead of his fleet and the safety of The Echyan Empire colonies, Admiral Valtonen turns his fleet around, and sails west. Where they are bound, still stands to be seen.

23rd of October

The constant unrest in the province of Belgae seems to build to a frenzied crescendo. Rebels and spies that had managed to evade the Sentinels of The Empire of Attolia for months suddenly break cover, seeming to be simply trying to cause as much chaos as possible. The sheer ferocity of it is too much for the Sentinels to handle alone, and the soldiers of Attolia in the province are quickly dispatched all across Belgae to help restore some semblance of peace.

25th of October

Despite the efforts of the peace summit, the seemingly inevitable finally occurs. The Kingdom of Ubren officially declares war on The Empire of Attolia, blaming Attolia's 'conspiracy' against Ubren for fanning the flames beyond the point that they can be extinguished. Ubren is quick to call their allies to their side, chiefly The Redcliff Empire and The Hastel Dominions. War continues to consume Europe.

26th of October

Not willing to squander the advantage they currently hold, The Kingdom of Ubren is quick to strike the first blow in it's war with The Empire of Attolia. An army group under the command of the highly respected General Janik Tillich marches to war. The General has nearly one hundred and fifty thousand men at his back as he marches into the Attolian province of Belgae, moving fast with a clear purpose to crush the garrison of the Empire underfoot.

28th of October

With the vast majority of the garrison scattered across Belgae handling the uprisings, clearly now an organised strike to distract the Empire before the invasion, The Empire of Attolia is woefully unprepared to handle the immense army bearing down on it. The cavalry of The Kingdom of Ubren, twenty thousand riders, race ahead of the main force. Thousands of Attolian soldiers are cut off, and cut down, dying on the streets as they are forced to either flee to the relative safety of the province's cities, or attempt heroic, but futile, last stands. First blood has been drawn. The fractions of the garrison that do survive find themselves seeking shelter in cities in which the people are constantly rising up against them, forcing them to spend as much time ensuring that the townsfolk don't throw open the gates from within as they do ensuring Ubren don't break through them from without.

30th of October

At least one nation of Europe is still attempting to maintain peace. The Three City's Republic of Ianian calls together representatives of both The Echyan Empire and The Republic of Toubres. The treaty proposes a colonial divide in the Americas. Although the proposal is certainly in favour of Toubres and Ianian, and in truth offers little than what is already a certainty, for The Echyan Empire, it offers a security for their colonies. Both Toubres and Echya are quick to sign the treaty, and it becomes official. Not only does this avoid potential squabbles, it also further strengthens the relationship between the three nations, potentially even tempting Echya away from the Continental Alliance.

🦄 Machiavellian Masquerade - Chapter 1

Justice Cobalt

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Location: Shadowell Manor: Gaming Room
Skills: Charisma
Hit Points: 6
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Cobalt caught hold of Amaranthine's hand before she could pull it away, pulling her backwards and almost off her feet. He made it a few paces backwards before she managed to yank her hand free, and the withering look she gave him shook him out of whatever moment of madness had seized him. Frowning slightly, more at himself than anything, Cobalt watched as Amaranthine turned back to the four men and seemed to agree, to something at least, but there was still a distinct tension in the room, a chill that wasn't simply from the night air still blowing through the open doorway.

Now that he had at least somewhat come to his senses, Cobalt did what he could to repair the damage his lapse may have caused. His mouth firmly set into the friendliest smile he could manage, he nodded his head towards first Amaranthine, then the four men, and then the doctor.

"Please forgive me, Chanteuse, for that indiscretion. And I hope I haven't made too much of a fool out of myself before you gentleman. I can only blame the stress of the evening for that momentary lapse in judgement."

Justice kept holding his easy smile. Luck had certainly seemed to turn against him in the last few moments, but if he couldn't rely on his charm, what could he rely on?

Pro Patria Mori - A Tale of Sailships and Muskets (Still Recruiting)

"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." -Wilfred Owen

Autumn of 1801

1st of September

In another move clearly intended to hopefully stimulate it's economy, The Three City's Republic of Ianian puts into action a string of tariffs. The idea is that the tariffs will be unobtrusive, so as to ensure that they do not become a burden on the poor and the needy, but effective enough that they will bring a welcome boost to the coffers of the Republic. Remarkably, the scheme works exactly as planned, seamlessly implementing itself amongst the other economic measures already in place. Ianian is quickly rebuilding it's status as an economic titan, if nothing else.

5th of September

The Hastel Dominions again look to increase the spending in their budget, this time in the government spending. Increasing the budget, the Dominions strive to increase efficiency, and to decrease corruption. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, pouring more money into the government does the opposite of decreasing corruption, instead allowing those already corrupt to run rife with more freedom than ever before. Although it does not have the desired effect, the move is still a clear sign of intent. The Hastel Dominions has aspirations of being one of the major powers of Europe, and it is willing to ruffle feathers to get there.

7th of September

Despite the tribunal of The Holy Territories of Edoniras imminent, the Sentinels of The Empire of Attolia continue their vigorous 'peace-keeping' actions in the province of Belgae. It is this vigour that may prove to be their downfall. A citizen of The Kingdom of Ubren, by the name of Josua Hasselmann, is seized by the Sentinel's. Dragged into a cell on suspicion of spying he is given the full assortment of rough 'persuading', almost bordering on torture, that the Sentinel's bring to bear. A few days later, he is cast out blinking into the sun, allowed to return home with his name cleared. This could have been the end of it, if Josua Hasselmann's cousin wasn't Kevin Holthusen, the man synonymous with newspapers in the Kingdom of Ubren. By the end of the day, the story is on the front cover of every newspaper in the Kingdom, spilling across into the neighbouring countries as well. It evokes total outrage, and the calls for vengeance for this injustice grow to a cacophony.

11th of September

The diplomatic party of The Three City's Republic of Ianian need wait no longer. Soldiers, wearing a uniform that none of them recognise, and riding jet black steeds, emerge from the stands. They are whisked away, and although they are not blindfolded, they soon lose all sense of direction in the rolling dunes and the seemingly endless plains. After seemingly an eternity, they arrive at the sun-bleached ruins of an ancient city. There, they are led before a hooded figure. The figure explains that he is not Majdi al-Selim, he is instead one of al-Selim's 'prophets', one of the chosen few to preach the great man's words. The prophet gives the Ianian representatives a message. al-Selim has a vision, a dream, an idea, and he will see that vision realized, no matter the cost, and no matter who attempts to stand in his way. They are given an ominous warning, that the days of Hijeens being oppressed are over, and they will not be seen again. The prophet thanks Ianian for it's gifts, and promises that if al-Selim has more to say, then he will deliver the message himself, but for now, the diplomatic party is whisked away, back to Tangir.

13th of September

With the rebellions across Suveren continuing, the King of The Kingdom of Aontas himself invites the self-elected leaders of the rebellion to come to the capital for a "redress of grievances". This is a difficult request, because in truth, the rebellions are truly movements without leaders. However, some representatives are chosen from amongst the masses, and they begin the long journey to the Aontas capital, keen to hear what the King plans to propose.

16th of September

The Tribunal of The Holy Territories of Edoniras begins. The spies are submitted to hours upon hours of rigorous questioning by representatives of nearly every European nation. They prove to be hardened characters, refusing to give up their employers, or even their mission. The handful of spies brought before the tribunal, four men and one woman, originate from all across Europe, so no clues can be drawn from there. They are difficult to break, but the tribunal is confident that they can be broken, and they continue their work.

18th of September

The Siege of Norzeg has been a long and bloody affair. The two armies, The Empire of Rubrus and The Kingdom of Vendsyssel are both made up of hardened warriors, who refuse to take even a single step backwards. The shelling from the navy of Vendsyssel has been relentless, and moored in the relative safety of the cities harbour, they have been beyond the retribution of the Rubrus forces. That, however, is soon to change. The cries of Rubrus for aid have not fallen on deaf ears, and the fleet of The Kingdom of Aontas sails to war. Catching the Vendsyssel fleet off guard, what follows is a frantic, brutal, but ultimately one-sided naval conflict. The Vendsyssel fleet is left in tatters, and with their greatest strength in ruins, the courage of the Vendsyssel garrison begins to run out. As the Marines of Aontas land, and begin aiding in the attacks on the city, the spirit of the defenders breaks. The city is stormed, and Rubrus wins their first victory in the war. Unsurprisingly, the Kingdom of Vendsyssel is quick to declare war on the Kingdom of Aontas.

21st of September

All too aware that they are being doggedly pursued, the fleet of The Empire of Attolia changes their route, cutting east and making for the friendly ports of The Echyan Empire. This is no small feat, the journey ahead of them standing at more than eight thousand nautical miles, and the most generous estimations by the navigators put their journey at taking more than a month, assuming there are no weather problems, or other complications. With nothing but open water between them and their destination, the supplies of the ships will be unbearably stretched. The Shuren Dynasty abandons their chase, although they watch carefully for the Attolian's return. If any of the fleet ever reach friendly waters, still stands to be seen.

23rd of September

Concerned that they are losing control in Suveren, The Kingdom of Aontas looks to bring in outside 'assistance'. That assistance comes in the form of mercenaries that Aontas hires, sailing them to the colony and putting them to work. This proves to be a lapse of judgement. The mercenaries are hired to keep the peace, and they do that with ruthless efficiency. Rebels are dragged into the streets and shot, their remains displayed as grisly reminders of what happens to those who disturb the peace. This all but entirely crushes the moderate rebels, but for the radicals, it fuels the fires within their souls, and drives them to committing to all but open warfare in the colony. The news of these atrocities cannot arrive at Aontas at a worse time, the stories being announced just as the King prepares for his meeting with the elected representatives of the rebels. The news is only made worse due to the well-known knowledge that The Republic of Toubres offered it's aid in restoring peace, an offer that Aontas seems to have ignored in favour of hiring savage thugs. Unsurprisingly, all of the rebel leaders refuse to attend the meeting, and the Aontas hopes of resolving the issue lie in tatters.

26th of September

At least in some corners of the world, peace seems to be shining through. Although an informal ceasefire has existed between The Kingdom of Sescos and The Eternal Hadeen of Dashkatar for some time, with the aid of The Empire of Attolia, this ceasefire is made official. Not only that, but an exchange of remains is arranged, a shred of goodwill in an otherwise foreboding world. How long this goodwill will last in such a bitter war, few can say. But it is a beginning, and it is hope.

29th of September

It is not only The Three City's Republic of Ianian that has been looking to be granted audience with Majdi al-Selim. In the Holy City of Akteme, representatives of The Republic of Toubres await their own meeting. They are eventually greeted by a similar figure, a hooded man that introduces himself as a prophet of al-Selim, and they are given a similar message. The vision will be realised, and the Hijeens will no longer be oppressed. But the warning does not end there. It is not only the Hijeens that will no longer be oppressed. The power of al-Selim reach every corner of the world, and too long have natives been ground under foot by the European powers. No longer.

🦄 Soulless Regency - Merged With T.S.

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William Fraser

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Location: Annan
Skills: Charisma

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Lady Kirkpatrick was clearly as formidable a woman as William had heard. He barely managed to suppress a smirk as she scolded Egerton like a child. Millicent at least seemed inclined to offer help, rather than bicker like Egerton and Rutherford, and William smiled slightly, glad to see that the woman was continuing to prove her good soul. The air seemed to chill as Lady Kirkpatrick cut off Millicent's introductions. Sensing the awkwardness in the group, William took it upon himself to alleviate it.

Stepping forward slightly, William smiled widely, holding out his hands slightly in greeting as he bowed his head towards first Lady Kirkpatrick, and then the young woman beside her.

"William Fraser at your service, m'lady. And your's, ma'am. It seems lucky that our paths have crossed when they did."

William allowed himself an inward smile, his gaze flicking between the faces of the two ladies in front of him. Not to be overly confident, but William had known his whole life that charm was a weapon he was well-versed to wield. His handsome face was a help no doubt, but his charisma was the force that had led him through life. Inherited from his father, no doubt, just as he had inherited his father's dark hair and natural talent for music.

For some reason, in the midst of this action, even as he kept his easy smile, and his head bowed towards the two women, William found his mind wandering to his mother. Blue eyes, that's what he had without doubt inherited from his mother. He could remember them, it was one of the few things he could remember about her. Wide eyes, more beautiful than anything he had ever seen, as deep as the ocean. He'd had the privilege to admire sapphires in his life, more often than not on discarded jewelry, strewn across the floor beside whatever bed he was sharing that night, but not one of those priceless jewels could ever compare to his mothers eyes...

He shook himself out of it, his charming persona clamping down on the emotional lapse. Only an instant had passed, and William resumed his easy smile, awaiting a response to his introduction.

🦄 Machiavellian Masquerade - Chapter 1

Justice Cobalt

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Location: Shadowell Manor: Gaming Room
Skills: Perception
Hit Points: 6
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So Chanteuse Amaranthine was not one to be easily persuaded then. Something to remember undoubtedly. Cobalt noticed her slight shift towards him, and her glance towards the still open door behind him, but she made no further action. Her refusal was clear, and Cobalt found himself instinctively raising an eyebrow beneath his mask again, still leaning on the fireplace mantle. The night had already been filled with surprises, and it appeared that the trend was not ending anytime soon.

From somewhere, a moment of madness seemed to seize Cobalt. Maybe he was standing too close to the fire, maybe there had been something wrong with food he had nibbled on earlier, or maybe the stress of the evening so far had gotten to him far more than he realized. His eyes looked around, wild for an instant. Amaranthine was in danger, these four strange men were here to drag her away to who knows where. Jane's warnings had not fallen on deaf ears, and Cobalt was going to make sure that Amaranthine didn't succumb to whatever horrors stalked this house. The door behind him, they wouldn't have thought of that! An escape, for both of them.

Taking a step forward, Cobalt reached out to grab Amaranthine's hand, intending to pull her back with him towards the opened wall panel. As he did, he spoke, his eyes darting between the four men.

"You heard the lady! Now back off"

Pro Patria Mori - A Tale of Sailships and Muskets (Still Recruiting)

"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." -Wilfred Owen

Autumn of 1801

3rd of August

Undisturbed by the raging dissent still rife just across the water in The Kingdom of Aontas colony of Suveren, the Western Territories of The Republic of Toubres continues to go from strength to strength. A colonist group embarks for the land to the west of the already established colony of Toubrian Budel. Unsurprisingly, due to the close bonds that Toubres already shares with the areas natives, the settling is pain-free, and the colony of Toubrian Lamao is formed. This only serves to further inflame the fires of rebellion in Suveren, as the natives continue to see their cultural brethren flourishing under Toubrian rule, rather than Aontas 'oppression'.

5th of August

The Hastel Dominions clearly does not want to be forgotten. All along the nation's border with The Kingdom of Vendsyssel, the army groups of the Dominions begin military exercises. The military exercises are foreboding, as the soldiers are drilled in invasion tactics, attempting to raise the armies morale, and prepare for apparently inevitable action. News unsurprisingly reaches the Kingdom of Vendsyssel, and it is not received well. Much of the Kingdom's forces are to the east, engaged in the war against The Kingdom of Claidor and The Empire of Rubrus. They are poorly prepared for a war to the west, let alone a war on two fronts. And yet there are murmurings starting to reach across Europe, rumours that what many thought was an illicit agreement between Vendsyssel and The Kingdom of Ilastiri was in fact simply the strengthening of an alliance, and that it was an alliance of three, not simply of two.

9th of August

For now at least, the seemingly relentless march of the combined army of The Kingdom of Vendsyssel and The Kingdom of Ilastiri grinds to a halt. With The Empire of Rubrus finally having roused itself, the overwhelming advantage that the invaders possessed is slipping. Instead of pushing on, they dig in, deploying garrisons in the cities they have captured, and beginning the process of bringing the people into the fold. Both nations have gained a vital province, and the clearly intend to not lose it.

14th of August

Again, The Hastel Dominions seems to prepare itself for war. Increasing their military spending, the army looks to ensure that all of it's forces are well-supplied for what may well be a long and drawn out war. However, as is often the case, the money allocated is never quite enough, and bureaucracy, as always, stands in the way. New ammunition and provisions are created, and some units are equipped, but it is ultimately a drop in the ocean, as the bulk of the army remains not re-supplied.

17th of August

A ship embarks from The Republic of Toubres. A Frigate, built for speed, and a dwarf next to the formidable Ships of the Line that the Toubres fleet commands, it sails south. Cutting through the strait and entering the Mediterranean. From there, the Frigate is lost for some time, but rumours echo back to the European powers. Echoes of a ship sailing into a port of The Republic of Oflua, and of a party setting out with guides hired to lead them to the Holy City of Akteme. Other rumours follow, but they vary drastically between the absurd and mundane. Very few know what truly transpired in the Holy City.

19th of August

Still preparing for a war with The Kingdom of Ubren, in The Empire of Attolia, great strides are taken to prepare the economy for the inevitable drain that war will become. The intent is to motivate those who traditionally don't work to contribute to the war effort, chiefly the elderly, children, and women. This is no insignificant feat, and is met with mixed reactions. Those that have had the fires of patriotism lit by the nationalistic rhetoric being used in the last months are quick to join up and do their part, but the effort is ultimately crippled by the fact that war has not yet broken out. Not only that, but with the summit doing what it can to stave off war, many see that as a waste of time, expecting the soldiers to return to work in the coming months.

23rd of August

Seizing on the opportunity, the colonising thirst of The Echyan Empire seemingly satisfied, The Republic of Toubres sends colonists south from the colony of Toubrian Rintes, settling the land that they dub Toubrian Coviria. Not only does this effectively cur off the Echyan's southern expansion, it also provides Toubres with crucial ports on the eastern coast of the great continent. The colonial holdings of the Republic are vast, stretching to every corner of the explored earth, and almost comically outmatching any other nation. As well as bringing in huge amounts of wealth, the colonies also provide the Republic with a friendly harbour , no matter where they sail. As the most pessimistic Europeans begin to speculate that the next great war will be a global one, Toubres finds itself a global power.

25th of August

The Empire of Attolia fleet, still pursued by a formidable fleet of The Shuren Dynasty, continue their flight to the north, attacking ports and merchant ships as they go, attempting to cripple the naval capabilities of the Dynasty. Yet every-time they hesitate, the hounding fleet of the Dynasty draws closer, and it does not take a brilliant strategist that eventually, the Attolian fleet is going to run out of north to run to.

26th of August

Keen to suppress their own rebellion, before it escalates to the chaos of The Empire of Attolia province of Belgae, The Kingdom of Ubren begins promoting patriotism all across it's territories. While this proves to be unsurprisingly popular across most of the Kingdom, in the province of Obertal, it does not silent the murmuring of dissent. Something is fanning the flames, something that has taken root in the province, and refuses to be flushed out.

28th of August

As Majdi al-Selim continues to silently watch Europe squabble internally, at least one nation seems dedicated to being proactive. Attempting to use their connections with the Hijeen people, through their colonies, The Three City's Republic of Ianian strives to seek an audience with the almost mythical man himself. Dark deals are done in the shadows, but somehow, the message appears to reach al-Selim. The Ianian representatives are told to wait, that their request for audience has been heard, and that it will be answered in time.

30th of August

In their capital province of Altubren, The Kingdom of Ubren begins preparing for a major infrastructure project. The province is in stark contrast with it's neighbour to the west, the province of Belgae. By now, Belgae is effectively under martial law, the Sentinels of The Empire of Attolia forced to fight desperate battles against a rebellious population that is armed and motivated, and showing no signs of backing down.

31st of August

In what may prove to be a decisive move in the Ubren-Attolian conflict, spies seized by the Sentinels of The Empire of Attolia during the early days of dissent in the province of Belgae are transported to The Holy Territories of Edoniras. The journey itself is thankfully uneventful, and the Pope himself takes custody of the prisoners, preparing them for the coming tribunal. It is only The Kingdom of Ubren that voted against the tribunal, and now, many are beginning to whisper the same thing about what the tribunal will prove.

🦄 Soulless Regency - Merged With T.S.

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William Fraser

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Location: Annan
Skills: Perception

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The breath caught in William's throat as they came over the crest. There was certainly the air of adventure in the air, but it was masked with the stench of death and blood. Bodies were littered all across lakeside clearing that they had arrived in, blood already sinking into the mud. The majority of the bodies were dressed in worn out clothing, and William knew that what he was looking at was a Soulless attack. From what he could tell, more than a dozen of the creatures had descended upon a carriage, the same carriage that now stood, harnessed to two dead horses.

Rutherford was out of the door almost before it had rolled to a halt, Millicent following after him despite Egerton's feeble attempts to stop her. William wasn't about to be left behind, even if Egerton seemed content to remain in the carriage, and he hurried to follow after them, stepping down from the carriage as he took in more of the scene. There were two bodies amongst the dead that caught his attention, he assumed two of the carriages former passengers judging by their fresher clothes. One of the bodies was simply dressed, the carriage driver if William had to guess, but the other was dressed like a catholic priest, an over-sized crucifix still gripped in his hand.

An exclamation from Rutherford turned William's attention to the two strangers still standing amongst the carnage. While the men had fallen, it appeared the women had persevered. The first was injured, although it looked to only be minor, at least from where William was standing. She was fairly well clothed, a lady's maid perhaps, but certainly one who could handle herself, considering the bodies littered around her. But it was the other woman that demanded William's attention, not least due to her calling out to them.

It only took a moment for William to recognise her, even without the sigil emblazoned across the stranded carriage. Lady Kirkpatrick. William stayed silent for now, glancing across to Rutherford to judge his reaction, with no doubt that he too would recognise the woman as well.

🦄 Machiavellian Masquerade - Chapter 1

Justice Cobalt

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Location: Shadowell Manor: Gaming Room
Skills: Perception
Hit Points: 6
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Cobalt raised an eyebrow as Swamp rose to his feet. Anticipating that there may be about to be some form of entertainment, Cobalt leaned against the fireplace beside him, his elbow on the mantelpiece. Although he looked relaxed, he was far from it, ready to spring into action if something called for it. What he got instead forced him to suppress a laugh. The blue eyes, peering out from the bird-like mask the doctor wore, clearly winked towards Amaranthine. The image, and the gesture, struck Cobalt as so out of place that it almost seemed farcical, but that was not the end of it.

Obviously attempting to impose himself, the tall, slender figure widened his stance as he spoke to the men gathered outside the door. This time, Cobalt couldn't stop the laughter that burst from him, and he was forced to conceal it with a cough as he heard the doctor speak. His intended? Cobalt had only left them alone for a few moments, had he missed some great declaration of love? Cobalt glanced across to Amaranthine herself, attempting to gauge her reaction.

Unfortunately, a face beneath a mask was a difficult one to read, and besides, Cobalt's attention was dragged away as the men standing outside the room moved into it. There was something curious about the men that stepped through the door, three with fair hair, one dark. Cobalt couldn't help but smirk as he heard them speak, each chiming in to continue from the other, so that four men spoke where only one needed to. They were certainly apologetic to the doctor, and if they were threatened by his stance they didn't show it.

Cobalt could feel the cold night's air on his back, and he wasn't surprised when he heard one of the four newcomers remark, although for the life of him he could not tell which one. Cobalt turned to Amaranthine again, waiting to see how the woman would react.

Pro Patria Mori - A Tale of Sailships and Muskets (Still Recruiting)

"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." -Wilfred Owen

Autumn of 1801

2nd of July

Keen to suppress the aggression of The Shuren Dynasty, or to at least challenge it, The Empire of Attolia officially grants Letters of Marquis to any Attolian sailors who wish to take up arms against the Shuren, allowing them to raid and pillage with no reprimand from the Empire. It is the Attolian East India Company that most readily takes to this opportunity, always looking for chances to further expand their power. Preparations are quickly made.

5th of July

For too long have the people of Suveren been forced to sit and watch while their neighbors, the Western Territories of The Republic of Toubres, have grown rich. Feeling that they are being sorely neglected by The Kingdom of Aontas, who seem far more concerned with wars on the continent than sparing any thought for their colonies, protests begin across the small province. Although it is the citizens of Aontas that light the torch, it is the natives, the Suvereni, that fan the flames. While their cultural brothers, just across the sea, have gone from strength to strength, the Suvereni have been given nothing. The meagre garrison of the island are almost obscenely outnumbered, and it is in panic that the first shot is fired. Protests turn to open riots, and rebellion.

9th of July

Wary of the espionage that is quickly becoming rampant across Europe, The Three City's Republic of Ianian creates a new Investigative Bureau, with it's sole purpose being the rooting out of spies attempting to infiltrate the Republic. This is no doubt a reactive move, and it symbolises that the dread of espionage is spreading beyond the borders of those already affected by it. A new age of spying is dawning across the continent.

13th of July

The European Trading League continues to grow in strength. Much like The Holy Territories of Edoniras, the joining of The Redcliff Empire is largely thanks to the Empire's already strong relations with a current member, The Republic of Toubres. Regardless, it is The Three City's Republic of Ianian that extends the invitation, and Redcliff readily accepts. While the Continental Alliance burst into life, the steady growing of strength by the European Trading League now challenges their strength, perhaps even trumping it. As the Ubren-Attolia War Summit continues, many are starting to consider the possible outcomes of a potential war in Europe.

17th of July

The Three City's Republic of Ianian continues it's active month. Now, their attention is turned to the excess spending that is threatening to dig at the Republic's wealth. Sweeping reports are made, reaching every corner of the Three City's, and their overseas colonies, rooting out any opportunity to cut down unnecessary spending, or where spending can be made more efficient. Despite it's sprawling trade routes steadily pouring gold into the Republic's coffers, a string of projects have begun to seep away that money, and the Republic seems determined to not stand for it.

21st of July

Finally, The Empire of Rubrus rouses itself. It's ally, The Kingdom of Claidor has been bloodied while the Empire has sat idle, but no longer. Some force seems to grip them, and they leap into action. They issue a proclamation to The Kingdom of Ilastiri, demanding that the Kingdom retracts it's forces from the conflict, and returns to their own territories. If the proclamation is ignored, they claim, they will call upon the Continental Alliance. For now though, they focus on The Kingdom of Vendsyssel. Soldiers march through the ever snowy reaches of the far north to heavily re-enforce the territories of Claidor's remaining lands, while the army group under General Klavdiy Levin, still encamped in the Claidor province of Lohoya march west, crosses into the Vendsyssel province of Rogosz. The war escalates yet further.

24th of July

Realizing that they are effectively out of options, the massed fleet of The Empire of Attolia launches it's counterattack against the besieging fleet of The Shuren Dynasty. Attempting to wrong-foot the Dynasty, instead of heading towards the relatively safe ports to the South, the Attolian fleet sails north. What follows is a frantic and brutal conflict, cannon-fire merging into a single roar as the two fleets collide. However, the Attolians were right. The Shuren fleet expected them to move south, so the bulk of their fleet is there. Although it is hard-fought, the majority of the Attolia fleet manages to break through the line. Fort Tian falls less than an hour after they depart, the remaining citizens left there slaughtered. For now, the Attolian fleet sails along the coast of the Shuren Dynasty, raiding and pillaging, hounded by the Shuren fleet.

26th of July

Attempting to improve the fracturing relations across the nation, stemming from the catastrophic situation in the province of Belgae, The Empire of Attolia calls upon the ruling councils of the Empire to gather in the capital, Attolia. The intentions of the meeting are simple, to receive the opinions of those on the ground, in order to better understand how the various regions of the Empire can be most helped. The meeting in itself, as is anything in bureaucracy, is clunky and slow, easily side-tracked and highly opinionated. However, slowly, progress is made.

29th of July

The army of The Empire of Rubrus reaches the port city of Norzeg, deep in The Kingdom of Vendsyssel province of Rogosz. The Vendsyssel navy is far from it's greatest strength, but it is substantially more than The Empire of Rubrus or The Kingdom of Claidor can bring to bear, and it begins exacting a bloody toll on the besieging Rubrus army. The Empire is quick to call on it's ally The Kingdom of Aontas, imploring for the Kingdom to send their own fleet to aid them. If their call will be answered, still stands to be seen.

31st of July

Civil unrest continues to become more and more of a common theme. In the province of Suveren, the garrison of The Kingdom of Aontas finds itself severely stretched attempting to contain the increasingly aggressive natives. Firefights break out, and riots spread like wildfire. In Belgae, the same almost open rebellion continues, as the Sentinels of The Empire of Attolia continue to fight their vicious battle against the insurgents that have infested the province. Even in The Kingdom of Ubren, dissent rises. In events eerily similar to the initial events in Belgae and Torrik, the murmurings of rebellion begin to spread. Although they are faint, they are growing louder, something, or someone, is amplifying them.

🦄 Soulless Regency - Merged With T.S.

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William Fraser

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Location: Annan
Skills: Perception

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William allowed himself a smile as Rutherford called for the carriage to change it's course, following the tracks that he had spotted. Both a delay, to allow William to find his footing in the group, and assess his best move, and also the potential for yet more adventure. Rutherford was right, perhaps William was simply growing more cautious, but he would be lying if the Soulless hadn't been the first thing to come to mind when he saw the tracks. He nodded in thanks for the praise from Rutherford, and shifted forwards slightly in his seat in anticipation.

Thankfully, the musician was hardly unarmed. If it was to come to a fight with the Soulless, he was as prepared as he could be. The dirk, sheathed and lying almost across his lap due to the way he was sitting, had been a gift from his father, ad had been well-used. The Solingen steel that it had been forged from had been whetted with Soulless blood so many times that William had started to believe it had developed a taste for it. And if the dirk was not enough, then the solid shape of the kopis, pressing against his back, would rise to the challenge. It was those two blades that William had wielded for years. He had others, but he only tended to use them out of necessity. He was a romantic at heart, in truth how could he not be, and the pair, the ivory and the ebony hilts, were simply too poetic for him to ignore.

Thinking of his companions, William turned to glance at them. He couldn't tell if Egerton was armed, but considering the man's mocking of needing training, he expected the man to be more of a liability than a help in battle. Millicent on the other hand was trained, but William was fairly confident from looking at her that she didn't have a weapon. It was Rutherford that caught his eye the most. Although he couldn't make out the individual weapons, he could tell the man was heavily armed. William allowed himself a slight smile as he stretched his right shoulder, shaking a s light stiffness from it. Now this was an adventure.