Romero

Pro Patria Mori - A Tale of Sailships and Muskets II

"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

Summer of 1757

1st of May

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

3rd of May

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

4th of May

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

7th of May

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

9th of May

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

11th of May

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

12th of May

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

13th of May

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

15th of May

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

16th of May

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

18th of May

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

20th of May

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

21st of May

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

24th of May

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

25th of May

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

28th of May

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

29th of May

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

30th of May

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

31st of May

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

Pro Patria Mori - A Tale of Sailships and Muskets II

@Spiffy Glad to have piqued your interest, and we're always open to new players. I'll PM you now with more details.

Pro Patria Mori - A Tale of Sailships and Muskets II

"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

Summer of 1757

2nd of April

The second wedding celebration for the bonding of Prince Christophe Dervaux and Princess Marie D'Aboville finally begins to die down. Just as with Rivierberg before it, Cappes, the capital city of The Kingdom of Arhan has been all but engulfed by this celebration. Grand processions wind through streets that are alive with parades and joy. While the east continues to be consumed by war, the west continues to celebrate it's new position of strength. Just as Arch-Duke Jean-Baptiste Dervaux did weeks before, Queen Ameline I has been careful to use the marriage of her only daughter, and sole heir, to further strengthen the bonds of the Western Alliance, hosting nobles from the nations of the Alliance, as well as from The Kingdom of Dorist and The Empire of Reria. The marriage between the heirs of Arhan and The Empire of Grimhout is a significant event, and one that could well shape the future of Europe itself.

5th of April

As The Kingdom of Komentiolos seemed to turn away from the peace offered by the Western Alliance, many feared that the war would continue, that yet more blood would soak the earth of Europe, and yet in a jarring change, Komentiolos suddenly change their stance. While the diplomats of The Empire of Grimhout are delayed and given no assurances, King Nikolaos II seems to take matters into his own hands. A rider is sent across the barren ground between the two waiting armies, travelling under the banner of peace, and this messenger is granted a wary audience with the brother-in-law of King Markus I, Andreas Manz, a man who has been handed the responsibility of overseeing the beleaguered remains of the Paranas army. In the city of Anchialos, which had been seized by the army of Komentiolos just months before, and then wrested back by the combined armies of Paranas and it's allies, the messenger delivers his message. Peace. Komentiolos looks to treaty with the so-called 'Eastern Alliance', offering peace, in exchange for no nation bearing the blame for the bloody war. Not only that, but Komentiolos offers un-harassed passage through the straits that it not controls, aside from a marginal tariff, and proposes a 'demilitarised' zone of some twenty miles between the Komentiolos foothold of Byzantium, and the lines of Paranas. With his message delivered, the messenger announces a temporary cease-fire, a sign of good will to allow Paranas and it's allies to make their decision, before he is given lodgings in the city, albeit under guard. It is no great secret that King Markus I is far from a great king, weak-willed and far more interested in sport and wine than matters of state, but Andreas Manz is a far cry from his father-in-law, a man with a quick wit, and a sharp mind. Dispatching his fastest riders to carry the message to his allies, The Kingdom of Stevata, The Kingdom of Teclav and The Empire of Khazaria, Andreas also gives word to the diplomats of the Western Alliance who are still lodging in the Paranas capital of Alirgos. As this hastily assembled summit begins to take shape, Andreas allows himself time to mull over the fact that struck him when he first heard the message from Komentiolos. Paranas is locked in a war with four nations, Komentiolos, The Empire of Reria, The Kingdom of Altenten and The Republic of Kalseran, and yet this messenger of peace spoke only for Komentiolos? If Komentiolos wishes to treaty with one alliance, should they not do it with the authority of their own? After all, it is the ships of Kalseran and Reria that hound the shores of Paranas and Khazaria, not the ships of Komentiolos. Trying to ignore his own doubts for now, Andreas awaits the arrival of his allies, and offers a prayer for peace.

6th of April

As Baptiste Crevier continues to increase his influence in the name of The Empire of Grimhout, the other colonies in India do not sit idly by, nor does the bleeding beast of The Viswan Empire itself. In the aftermath of the death of Stein Fehn, and the sacking of Fort Ivars, the remaining colony of The Kingdom of Kehsi has fallen under the slightly unwilling command of Viktor Halse, a long serving administrator of the colony, and a man with little stomach for violence. In truth, while many Europeans see India as simply a prize, to be carved up and ransacked, Viktor has fallen in love with the land in which he finds himself. Already a student of the sub-continents dominant languages, Viktor has even taken to writing poetry in the local dialect. An oddity perhaps, but Viktor is experienced, and although it does not quit suit him, command is not an honour that Viktor is planning to shirk. With news of his allies siding with the banished Shah Jafar to the north, Viktor is more interested in toeing the line. After all, while Baptiste seems determined to carve out his own empire, and involve himself in the local politics, Viktor is far more interested in making money, and it is trade that will reap the greatest rewards, at least in the clerk's mind. With that intention, the Kehsi colony continues to trade with all factions in the growing civil war, and a stream of gold continues to run from India, back to the capital of Sabica.

9th of April

In truth, perhaps it was inevitable that The Kingdom of Dorist were drawn to the flickering flame of hope that the Western Alliance has become. The loss of Shardvul, and the slaughter of thousands, has brought Dorist almost to it's knees, and while General Albert Riechsand continues to maintain order with an iron fist, even the most loyal soldiers will not fight on without pay. In the end, it is not the promises of peace, or the demonstrations of strength, that win over the proud nation of Dorist, it is the blood that flows through every nation, gold. A string of impressive trade agreements and treaties are signed between the nations of Dorist, and those of the Western Alliance, predominately The Kingdom of Kehsi, The Kingdom of Genstadt, The Principality of Asmont and The Empire of Grimhout. Although no official alliances are forged, it is becoming increasingly clear that Dorist continues to move further west by the day. After all, it is the Western Alliance that now sustains Dorist, and when that debt is called upon, Dorist will repay it with soldiers and cannons. The slow spread of the Western Alliance continues, and although Dorist is still a shadow of it's former self, it's soldiers are still some of the finest in Europe, and the Western Alliance can now call upon a truly formidable army.

11th of April

While the colonies of The Empire of Grimhout align themselves with the banished prince, regarding themselves as safe from any wrath of The Viswan Empire in their settlements to the north, and the colonies of The Kingdom of Kehsi attempt to distance themselves from the growing conflict as they lick their wounds, the settlements of The Republic of Kalseran have been largely quiet. And yet, in recent days, that silence has been broken. Maria Toleas has officially arrived in India, and she has wasted no time in stamping her authority over the colonies of the republic. With the latest reports spread before her, a wry smile plays on the formidable woman's thin lips. Messengers are sent to the Imperial City of Viswan, and Maria pledges the support of the republic to Shah Mal, and the throne of the empire. Just as Baptiste Crevier has moved to secure his own army, so too does Maria, and the two colonies suddenly find themselves on opposite sides. Even as tension between Grimhout and Kalseran seems to be simmering in Europe, in India, those same tensions threaten to boil over.

14th of April

Although it is a little unorthodox, the peace summit that The Empire of Khazaria has suggested, is taking place. Over the last week, Anchialos has become a staging ground for diplomats hailing from Khazaria, The Kingdom of Paranas, The Kingdom of Stevata, The Kingdom of Teclav, as well as representatives of the Western Alliance in the form of diplomats from The Empire of Grimhout, and the rider from The Kingdom of Komentiolos. Komentiolos may not have spoken for it's allies, but news of this impromptu summit has travelled fast, and it is not long before diplomats of The Republic of Kalseran also arrive at the city, travelling under the banner of truce. Word also arrives that The Empire of Reria and The Kingdom of Altenten are sending their own diplomats in the coming days, and so, in the unassuming coastal city of Anchialos, under the watchful eye of Andreas Manz, every nation of the bloody war has finally been brought together. For now, there is little progress, the 'Eastern Alliance' still debating the terms that Komentiolos has presented to them, while a hundred hushed conversations are had behind carefully closed door. War is sometimes all too easy, it is peace that is difficult, and while progress is painfully slow, it is still progress.

15th of April

Even while there is joy and celebration for the Western Alliance, there is also sorrow. The shadow of death comes for all, and even as revellers return to their home nations, a dark shroud is cast over The Principality of Asmont, as Princess Karoline Asmont dies. Wife of Prince William Asmont, beloved by her husband, her family and her nation, the kind-hearted woman had been ill for months, and even the finest doctors that the wealth of the principality could provide were not enough to stave off the inevitable. The death clearly weighs heavy on the shoulders of Prince William, the spark extinguished, and in hushed voices, there are those in the court of the principality that believe the prince will not tarry for long without his princess. If Prince William does pass, the grief bringing his own life to an end, then the crown will pass to his son, Prince Alexandre, himself only recently married to Juliette, the daughter of Arch-Duke Jean-Baptiste Dervaux, ruler of The Empire of Grimhout. Even where there is sorrow, the bonds between the members of the Western Alliance seem to continue going from strength to strength.

16th of April

With every day that passes, the truth continues to bleed out from the province of Aegyptus. News has reached across the water, and reached the shores of the Mediterranean, and The Empire of Khazaria are the first to break the silence, issuing a declaration to publicly condemn their ancient enemy. Rumours have already been swirling regarding the slaughter of the Komentiolos people at the hands of unfeeling butchers, but Khazaria's declaration is enough to whip those rumours into a wildfire, causing uproar in the nations of Khazaria and it's allies, even as peace seems to be drawing ever closer. And yet even as this uproar grips the enemies of The Kingdom of Komentiolos, it's allies do not escape unblemished. It would be naive to assume that The Empire of Reria and The Republic of Kalseran had not already heard rumours of the massacres, yet this declaration from Khazaria forces their hands, and their is a growing voice of outrage in both nations. And yet, if Komentiolos is phased by these revelations, it does little to show it. In fact, quite the opposite is true. More than ten thousand soldiers of Komentiolos are brought from the front line with Khazaria, and deployed in the charred remains of Aegyptus. While this can be seen as a step towards peace, it is another harbinger of doom for those that still inhabit Aegyptus. Those nobles that have already fled in the night are stripped of any title and lands, their remaining wealth seized, and Komentiolos makes no move to hide the truth of it's heavy-handed practices, instead seeming to even display them as a stark and bloody warning. Rebellion will not be tolerated by Komentiolos, and it is the kingdom's divine right to enact it's retribution however it see's fit, even if it is through the slaughter of it's own people. Unsurprisingly, this response does nothing to subdue the uproar, instead whipping into even more of a frenzy. How the rest of Europe choose to react may well shape the very face of the continent for generations.

17th of April

The diplomatic summit that The Kingdom of Komentiolos called with the northern nations of The Kingdom of Fosbak, The Kingdom of Orvag, The Empire of Stabuga and The Kingdom of Dorist has barely begun, the nations still coming to terms with what the others expect and demand, before Komentiolos abruptly brings it a halt. Rather than attempt to reach any agreement, the ageing diplomat Yannis Antonellis, the representative of King Nikolaos II, simply declares that Komentiolos wishes to see an end to the war, it's attention shifting to other matters. The diplomats of the so-called 'Northern Kingdoms' are understandably a little stunned by this sudden change in direction. After all, it was Komentiolos that called them all together, only to seemingly dismiss them, like a child growing bored of a toy. The change in Komentiolos stance on the war with The Empire of Khazaria is so abrupt that it is jarring, but for those that cry out for peace, it is a great victory.

19th of April

No doubt eased by the recent celebrations, and influenced by the formidable strength of the Western Alliance, the relationship between the nations of The Kingdom of Arhan and The Empire of Reria have not been so good for generations. The increasingly hostile tensions that had been growing just months past are long-forgotten, the planned coup against Queen Ameline I a distant memory, and trade once again flows freely between the two neighbours. Just as new trade agreements to the north bring The Kingdom of Dorist closer to the fold, this new age of friendship seems to be easing Reria further into the clutches of the Western Alliance. It is marriage that bonds Reria with The Kingdom of Komentiolos and The Republic of Kalseran, and it is those bonds that have seen Reria blood spilled in the Black Sea, but as the flickering glimmer of peace seems to be growing brighter by the day, Reria is looking beyond the war, and as the nations of the Western Alliance continue to flourish, Emperor Clarenzio III is smart enough to recognise an opportunity when it presents itself. Not only that, but Reria's budding colonial enterprise in North Africa has already leaned on the support of The Kingdom of Hispalis, and a closer relationship could only strengthen Reria's influence.

22nd of April

As the fallout following the brutal murder of Emperor Shah Miran continues to spiral, a number of factions begin to emerge from the chaos. The new Emperor, Shah Mal, still commands The Viswan Empire, and with it comes vast swathes of land in the west of the subcontinent, a formidable army, and the welcome support of Maria Toleas and The Republic of Kalseran, while the east of the sub-continent, headed by the powerful Mir Khan, a close friend of the former emperor, has declared it's support for the banished prince Shah Jafar, with the support of Baptiste Crevier and The Empire of Grimhout. To the south, the loosely banded together handful of local princes and lords have shown no great loyalty to either faction, preferring instead to focus on their own interests, much like the colonies of The Kingdom of Kehsi. The final figure to place themselves on the board is the one who the least is known about, and who's meteoric rise to power comes as the greatest surprise. The mountain man Nader ud-Daula was little more than a bandit only a few years past, but his raw talent for command saw him taken under the wing of the ageing nabob Safdar Jahan, and proved himself such a competent leader of men, that he expanded the nabob's influence across much of northern India, and well into the mountains. When Safdar Jahan died, his only son a weak boy, few stood in the way of Nader ud-Daula seizing power, and in the aftermath of the emperor's death, Nader ud-Daula saw the opportunity to break away from the empire, and declare himself king, commanding a formidable army in his own right. Between these four loose factions, India is divided, and as tensions continue to rise, civil war seems inevitable. What part the European colonies have to play, is still yet to be seen.

24th of April

It is not only to the east that Europe is increasing it's influence. With the new treaties of the Western Alliance quickly extinguishing any tensions in the region, the Americas are not dominated by the joint powers of The Kingdom of Kehsi and The Empire of Grimhout. The Americas does not boast the grand empires of India, but it is still a rich and bountiful land, and with no rivals for influence in the region, the two nations have been further securing their own footholds. While Kehsi dominates the islands, producing vast quantities of tobacco and sugar in the tropical conditions, the colonies of Grimhout still largely consist of trading ports and a handful of forts scattered along the coastline of the continent, frequently trade with the native tribes, as well as providing their own tobacco, and shipping enough flour, rice and grains back to Europe to feed Grimhout three times over. While it does not boast the complex political manoeuvring of India, the Americas is still an impressive prize, and with every passing day, more ships arrive carrying bright-eyed Europeans, looking to carve out a name for themselves in the untapped wilderness, away from the conflict and wars of Europe.

25th of April

Just as The Kingdom of Komentiolos enforces a ceasefire as the peace talks slowly progress, so too does the fleet of The Republic of Kalseran and The Empire of Reria. Admiral Iraklis Roberto continues his loose blockade, but there are no more assaults against the ports of The Empire of Khazaria, and for now, the advantage shown during the Battle of Chersonesus is not pursued. For the talks themselves, the diplomats of the republic are largely non-committal, taking care to listen to the terms, and attempt to push for the republic's interests should the opportunity present itself, but they do not push for any quick conclusion. For now, the most substantial terms presented by any of the present parties is the ultimatum presented by Komentiolos, and for now, the impetus rests on the shoulders of Khazaria and it's allies to give their response. The balance between war and peace is always a perilously thin line, but Khazaria holds the power to swing the pendulum towards an end to the wanton bloodshed.

27th of April

The newly signed trade agreements between The Kingdom of Dorist and the nations of the Western Alliance has been a lifeline for the beleaguered nation, and as wealth once again begins to flow into the nation, General Albert Riechsand seems to finally reach a decision. Dorist is a nation bowed, but it is a nation unbroken, and as wealth returns, support for the charismatic cavalryman only continues to climb, the newly loyal nobility lending their support more willingly. Even the mere figurehead of King Freud I is cheered in the streets of Talfist, and the nation can finally begin to heal from it's bloody defeat at the hands of The Empire of Khazaria and it's allies. The source of this newfound vitality can be traced to the west, and General Albert is a man who does not forget his debts. Messengers are sent across the Western Alliance, inviting the great and good of the proud nations of The Empire of Grimhout, The Kingdom of Kehsi, The Kingdom of Arhan, The Kingdom of Hispalis, The Kingdom of Genstadt and The Principality of Asmont to a great feast in the capital of Dorist. On the face of it, this festival is to honour the trade agreements, and give the worn citizens of Dorist a chance to dream of a brighter future, but to the leaders of the Western Alliance, the invitation is clearly an extended hand, and Dorist moves ever closer to joining the fold of the powerful alliance.

29th of April

Despite the outrage still roaring in courts across Europe, it is not only Europe that has been stunned by the actions of The Kingdom of Komentiolos in Aegyptus. Despite the efforts of Komentiolos to prevent it, the wealthy traders continue to dissapear into the night, taking with them all the wealth that they can carry, and using their influence to escape either across the sea, or to the south, and into land beyond the heavy reach of Komentiolos. Many of these traders are quickly able to find sanctuary in the other great trading nations of the Mediterranean, their wealth and power still valuable commodities, but there are still others that do not have these luxuries. As villages are razed to their ground, and every inhabitant slaughtered, from the revered elders to babes still at their mother's breast, countless other villages decided to not risk the same fate. Many of the people that carve out a life in the shifting sands are still partly nomadic, and so they were quick to slip away, leaving the dark soldiers of Komentiolos to find abandoned villages. The deserts of Aegyptus have always been quiet, but now they are eerily so. Many of the villagers that flee do so the west, finding new homes in the land still unclaimed by any of the European powers, caught between Aegyptus and the fledgling colony of The Empire of Reria, and as they carry their story, it causes outrage in North Africa, just as it does in Europe. As the news continues to spread west like wildfire, it reaches the established colonies of The Kingdom of Hispalis, who suddenly find themselves faced with a local population that is enraged. It is a testament to the strength of the influence that Hispalis possesses that they are able to maintain control, but the voices calling for retaliation, or at least condemnation, grow louder and louder by the day. The actions of General Marcian Augustus, under the order of King Nikolaos II, have already been carved into history with blood, and they will echo in eternity.

30th of April

Far from the blood-soaked sands of Aegyptus, The Empire of Stabuga have been working tirelessly. With great effort, General Desya Sorokin has pushed forward into the wilderness. A string of settlements and forts now reach out east from Fort Barinov, and although the weather is harsh, the very terrain inhospitable, the people are Stabuga are a hardy breed, and with every step forward, the next comes a little easier. General Desya has taken to his task with resolve, and he has excelled. Through careful negotiation and trade, the hardened commander has managed to not only ease Stabuga's progress through aid from the local tribes that call the frozen tundra home, but he has been able to imbue the very influence of the empire into these tribes. After all, their paths were one and the same in centuries past, and as the reach of Stabuga increases, the tribes begin looking more and more like people of Stabuga. While the young Tsar Petya Barinov strengthens the empire's influence in the west, Desya does the same in the west, and Stabuga continues to grow stronger.

Pro Patria Mori - A Tale of Sailships and Muskets II

"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

Spring of 1757

1st of March

As The Viswan Empire crumbles, it is The Empire of Grimhout that first seizes the opportunity. Baptiste Crevier, acting with the full authority of Grimhout, is quick to send messengers to the banished prince Shah Jafar, and pledge his support for the prince's claim to his throne. The colonies of Grimhout are still the youngest in the region, but Baptiste has been quick to not only wade into the convoluted bickering politics of India, but also to align himself against the lingering strength of the Viswan Empire. Sealed reports are quickly dispatched back towards Europe, calling for aid, but Baptiste is not the kind of man to sit idly by and wait for help to arrive. Even while his messengers search for the banished prince, Baptiste hires a string of European soldiers for hire, who have been carving out a life in India for years, and puts them to work training up local soldiers in the European style of war. Taking inspiration from the armies of the Viswan Empire, Baptiste dubs these new soldiers 'sepahi', and with the aid of his soldiers of fortune, begins carving out Grimhout's influence. If the Emperor Shah Mal wishes to bring ruin to the Europeans that have sided with his banished brother, then the Viswan armies will not find Grimhout to be as poorly defended as Fort Ivars.

2nd of March

The diplomats of The Kingdom of Paranas arrived too late, or perhaps they were always doomed to fail. As the soldiers of The Kingdom of Komentiolos continue to cross the narrow strait in their thousands, and the ships of The Republic of Kalseran and The Empire of Reria dominate the Black Sea, perhaps Philipp Lehner believes the balance of the war is shifting, and he is not a man to miss an opportunity. In a surprising move, it is Philip himself who leads the court gathering, throwing away the facade of King Niklas IV holding any real power, as Philipp launches into a speech of fiery rhetoric, painting The Empire of Khazaria as a nation of savages, the crest of a wave that would sweep away all civilisation if it is not brought to heel. Even as he whips the court into a frenzy, the official declaration travels east. The Kingdom of Altenten will go to war against the Kingdom of Paranas, and in turn, the allies of Paranas. As another pawn is placed on the board, thousands of soldiers march to battle lines, with many returning to the border with The Kingdom of Stevata that they had abandoned only months earlier. It seems as if the noose around the throat of Paranas is beginning to tighten, the calls for peace from the Western Alliance falling on wilfully deaf ears.

3rd of March

For now, the war between The Kingdom of Komentiolos and The Empire of Khazaria seems to have lulled, the two sides moving their pieces into position, before committing themselves, and as the conscripts of Komentiolos continue to flood the defensive lines in Kavatsona, Khazaria looks to it's own people. Just as Komentiolos has branded it's northern neighbours as savages, Khazaria brands its ancient enemy as devilish crusaders, driven by a terrible bloodlust. Even as fresh soldiers are brought into the folds of Khazaria's armies, the young Şahin Macar does not rest on his laurels. Just as King Nikolaos II sent emissaries to the other nations of Europe, so too does Şahin Macar, yet while Komentiolos called on aid to beat back the 'barbarous hordes of the east', Khazaria instead travels with a message of brotherhood and unity. After all, the alliance between Khazaria, The Kingdom of Stevata, The Kingdom of Teclav and The Kingdom of Paranas is enduring one, and this fresh war only began after Khazaria marched to the aid of it's ally Paranas in the face of the Komentiolos invasion. Is that the actions of a 'barbarous horde'?

6th of March

The barren ground between the two great fortified battle lines has grown eerily quiet. Occasionally, scouting parties make the dangerous trek beyond their own nations lines, but as time has gone past, even these excursions have become more and more rare. Thousands of men, separated only by the country in which they born, and yet given orders to slaughter the enemy if the opportunity presents itself. The lines of The Kingdom of Komentiolos look like something from a bygone age, ancient siege weapons jutting up like bizarre sculptures, and conscript 'legions' manning the extensive earthen defences in their tens of thousands, the city of Byzantion becoming a truly formidable fortress, while the lines of The Republic of Kalseran could not be more different, stretched thin, but heavily fortified, and watched over by row upon row of field guns. Between the two, the massed army of The Empire of Khazaria, The Kingdom of Stevata, The Kingdom of Teclav and The Kingdom of Paranas still waits. After their victory at Battle of Drarama, many believed that Khazaria would continue to push their advantage, but the massed army now sits behind earthen fortifications of it's own, the legendary horsemen of Alp Tarkhan simply used as scouts and sentries, rather than riding out to bring ruin and destruction to their enemies. For now, there is peace, for now, the bloodshed has stopped. But to believe that war will not ravage the land once more would be naive.

8th of March

The wedding of Prince Christophe Dervaux and Princess Marie D'Aboville officially begins, hosted in the Imperial Palace in Rivierberg. The festivities of the event spill out into the city itself, and the celebrations last for days. The two nations, The Empire of Grimhout and The Kingdom of Arhan, are officially bound together, but that is not the only significance of the event. Ever looking to further his ambitious, Arch-Duke Jean-Baptiste Dervaux uses his son's wedding as an opportunity to bring together all of the nations of the Western Alliance, and promote the unity of the powerful alliance. Young nobles hailing from not only The Kingdom of Kehsi, The Kingdom of Hispalis, The Principality of Asmont and The Kingdom of Genstadt, but also The Kingdom of Dorist and The Empire of Reria are all brought together, and given lodgings and fine wine in the Imperial Palace. The rare moment of debauchery that engulfs the city brings together dozens of powerful families, and as bloodlines begin to intertwine, the bond between these nations continues to strengthen.

9th of March

Just as The Kingdom of Altenten prepares to march to war, the soldiers of The Kingdom of Stevata look east once more, returning to their positions along the shared border between the two nations. King Oswald IV has already known war far beyond his young age, but the actions of Altenten have clearly lit a fire in the young king. A declaration is issued, condemning Altenten in the strongest terms. After all, the string of treaties that Oswald agreed to sign with his western neighbours now lie in tatters, the peace that Altenten begged for squandered and dragged into the mud. In his declaration, Oswald also makes it abundantly clear who he lays the blame upon. It was Philipp Lehner who demanded that his late father-in-law turned away from war, and yet it is Philipp who calls for war now. The declaration paints Philipp as a Machiavellian opportunist, utterly without honour, but more importantly, it makes one thing abundantly clear. If diplomats of Altenten do call for peace again, they will find a young king far less willing to accommodate their pleas.

11th of March

Across their foothold in the province of Kavatsona, the armies of The Kingdom of Komentiolos do not lay idle. Work continues all across the defensive lines, ensuring that the soldiers of Komentiolos will not be caught off guard for a second time. As the long days stretch into long weeks, and more soldiers continue to arrive from across the narrow strait, the kingdom also turns it's attention to the sheer logistical challenge of maintaining it's new vast army. The entire nation has been dedicated to this war, so from across Komentiolos, supplies are brought forth. Private gardens are commandeered into farmland, prison populations press-ganged into farmhands, even the personal wine supplies of King Nikolaos II are provided for his 'legions'. And yet, in the shadows of the court, whispered conversations are being had by those nobles not gripped by the same nationalism that has whipped the nation into a war machine. The thousands of new soldiers manning the line are thousands of hands lost from their role in the nation, craftsman and artisans. If they are lost, then Komentiolos loses vital skills, and while the nation pours it's entire input into the war effort, the coffers of the nation continue to drain. However impressive these vast armies of Komentiolos are, they are draining the nation dry, and they cannot be maintained indefinitely. If war is to come, then it must come soon, and it must be decisive.

13th of March

Even while there are murmurs of discontent in the heart of The Kingdom of Komentiolos, the province of Aegyptus continues to stand as a horrific reminder of the risks of disloyalty. The soldiers of General Marcian Augustus continue to slaughter their way across the province, and the scenes that play out as they descend upon villages are drawn from the pages of Armageddon. The locals are treated like animals, cruelly hunted for sport by men that have become numbed by the horrors of war, men, women and children cut down where they stand, or crudely crucified and left to bleed to death from their wounds as their villages are burnt to the ground, with little thought about whether they are rebels or innocent. The nobles of Aegyptus, the same men and women that celebrated Komentiolos embracing the province, are dragged from their villas and forced to witness this massacre, even the king's own brother shown first-hand the brutal cost of rebellion. The message is clear, rebellion will not be tolerated, and yet day by day, news begins to slowly bleed out from Aegyptus, first reaching the colony of The Empire of Reria to the west, and then the traders of The Republic of Kalseran to the north. The old ways have been forgotten, thought long gone, and yet all across Aegyptus, as the nomadic locals flee for the relative safety of the desert beyond the Komentiolos borders, King Nikolaos II has developed a new name, a name that is spat and cursed whenever it is uttered. Caesar.

15th of March

Every day that Fridrik Kotka grows older, the bond that exists between The Kingdom of Teclav and The Kingdom of Orvag continues to grow stronger, and the recent diplomatic actions of The Kingdom of Komentiolos have not escaped the attentions of either nation. Komentiolos has called for aid, and with the Western Alliance already calling for peace, it seems as if King Nikolaos II will understandably be focusing his efforts on the nations not yet aligned, Orvag amongst them. It is not surprising then, that Grand Prince Fridrik Sidorov acts. Personally undertaking the short journey from his palace in Lebin to the Orvag capital of Ekda, Fridrik journeys to personally meet the young child that is responsible for the growing relationship between the two nations. Warmly greeted by the ageing King Valterri IV, the two rulers break bread together, and while no official treaties are struck, it is becoming increasingly clear that if Komentiolos does call for it, Orvag will not march to war against Teclav, or any nation that calls Teclav it's ally.

16th of March

The Kingdom of Paranas is quickly to join The Kingdom of Stevata in it's condemnation of The Kingdom of Altenten, as it's own defensive lines continue to stretch. Just as The Kingdom of Komentiolos has committed it's nation to the war, Paranas has done the same, although with little alternative. The vast gathered army of Paranas, Stevata, The Kingdom of Teclav and The Empire of Khazaria has stricken the supplies of the kingdom, stripping the land of it's resources, and while supplies do continue to trickle in from Khazaria and Stevata, the kingdom of Paranas is beginning to show the strain of it's efforts. For both sides of this bloody conflict, the time of dithering and preparing is quick running out, and if the coming months do not see the fiery horse of war, then it will be the pale horse of famine and sickness that rides out.

18th of March

Even after the effective toppling of King Freud I, The Kingdom of Dorist is still a shell of it's former self. Thousands of sons, husbands and fathers never returned from the bloody struggle for Shardvul, and those men that did survive the Siege of Kronik are haunted by the nightmares that they witnessed. The coup of General Albert Riechsand has brought precious stability to the reeling nation, but there are still murmurs of discontent. While the nation struggles to recover from the loss of Shardvul, and the cost of the bloody war, the considerable army that Dorist still controls continues to drain those precious few resources. There are those who murmur in the darkness that the Dorist army should be drastically cut back, but for Albert Riechsand, the army of Dorist is the last pillar still standing, the bastion around which the rest of the nation can rally. Those few that are brave or foolish enough to publicly speak out against Albert are dragged away in the night, and for the vast majority of the population, peace continues. As the days pass, Dorist seems to continue turning it's attention westwards, warmly accepting the olive branch of friendship offered by The Empire of Grimhout and the rest of the Western Alliance. While Albert continues to use the army as a unifying symbol, he is not a man hungry for war, and the peace of the west seems to be more appealing to the former cavalryman than the wars of the east.

21st of March

The combined fleet of The Republic of Kalseran and The Empire of Reria have hounded the sheltered harbours of The Empire of Khazaria for weeks, but they have been unable to inflict any lasting damage. As the ships prepare to return to their own harbours to resupply and rest, Admiral Iraklis Roberto plays the last ace in his hand. Taking a leaf of Khazaria's own playbook, Iraklis commandeers a small fleet of merchant ships and fishing vessels, transforming them into rudimentary fireships and then releasing them with the tide. Some of these fireships are destroyed by cannon-fire, yet more dash themselves against the rocks that shield the natural harbours of Khazaria, but some do find their way through, and the soldiers of Khazaria are forced to react, rushing from ship to ship as they attempt to extinguish the flames before they can spread to Khazaria's own fleet. In the end, there are enough hands to man the pumps, and little damage is done, but in the chaos and the confusion, shots are exchanged between the harbour defences, and the lurking ships of Kalseran, and Admiral Iraklis achieves his true aim. The Luciani Ratio has steadily spread throughout the republic, and with it at his disposal, Iraklis has carried out a simple test, and found the results to be extremely satisfactory. With the ratio, the cannons of the fleet out-range the cannons of the defenders. With a wry smile on his face, Iraklis leads his fleet back to the provided harbours of The Kingdom of Komentiolos and begins preparations for the next time Kalseran and her allies sail to war.

24th of March

Tsar Viktor Barinov is dead. In truth, the ageing Tsar had been deathly ill for weeks, but the truth of his sickness had remained a closely guarded secret, known only to his most trusted advisors. After all, The Empire of Stabuga is a nation of hardy folk, and it has always been the strength of the Tsar that has united the countless factions that make up the empire. To know that the great Viktor Barinov had died in his bed, blood filling his lungs, could have brought the Empire to it's knees. But with time, the palace has been able to carefully control the flow of information, and when Viktor does finally give his last, haggard breath, Tsesarevich Petya Barinov is ready to take his place. The young prince is popular and charismatic, and after the mourning of his father's death, his coronation is celebrated all across Stabuga. After all, Petya has long been the heir to the empire, and he has been prepared for this moment his entire life. With the changing of the monarch, the entire face of Stabuga begins to shift. After all, Petya has a strong friendship with Queen Marta II, and the affinity that he feels for the ruler of The Kingdom of Fosbak has not waned since he has assumed power. In the midst of it all, it is the treaty with The Empire of Grimhout that is slowly neglected. The Kingdom of Orvag finds itself caught between two nations that are growing increasingly close with every passing day, and the rest of Europe will no doubt be casting a wary eye towards the northern alliance that seems to be emerging.

26th of March

Still there is no movement along the defensive lines across The Kingdom of Paranas. While the rest of Europe breathes and moves, the great armies seem to be stagnant, the very air stifled of any breeze. Neither side seem to want to make the next move, as the armies continue to dig themselves in, preparing for the assault that will seemingly never come. Wary of the thinly stretched nature of their own army, The Republic of Kalseran conscripts the local populace into aiding in the defence of their homeland, while across the churned mud of the land between the tow armies, there is grave news. Through the massed cavalry of Alp Tarkhan, a sickness seems to be spreading. It is slow at first, difficult to notice, but is testament to the affinity that Alp Tarkhan's horse-lords share with their steeds that they see the signs as early as they do. Whatever this sickness is, and wherever it came from, it has the potential to cripple the greatest strength of The Empire of Khazaria.

27th of March

Perhaps Şahin Macar grows tired of war, or perhaps, like Philipp Lehner, the young ruler thinks the balance of the war is slipping away from him, but whatever the reason, when the diplomats of the Western Alliance arrive in the imperial court of The Empire of Khazaria, they are warmly welcomed. The dove of peace from The Empire of Grimhout is embraced, and Khazaria agrees to work with the Western Alliance to find peace, suggesting a conference in which the warring nations can find common ground. Whether this grand ambition will find any grounds in reality, still stands to be seen, but the declaration is still offered to the courts of The Kingdom of Komentiolos, The Republic of Kalseran, The Empire of Reria and The Kingdom of Altenten, and supported by Khazaria's allies.

29th of March

In stark contrast to their ancient enemies, The Kingdom of Komentiolos makes no such push for peace, instead looking for yet more allies to bring into the war. While the diplomats of the Western Alliance are given ample hospitality, their words are simply echoes on the breeze, and Komentiolos sends it's own diplomats north. Clearly believing the Western Alliance to be a lost cause, Komentiolos looks to the nations that are yet to declare their allegiance. The capital of The Kingdom of Fosbak, Elhavn, becomes the de facto centre for this gathering, and representatives of Fosbak, The Kingdom of Dorist, The Kingdom of Orvag and The Empire of Stabuga are all invited to attend. All four nations do send their own diplomats, so Komentiolos can enjoy their first small victory, but the next step will prove to be far more difficult. The north has it's own treacherously complex web of politics, and the diplomats of Komentiolos will need to learn quickly if they are to stand a chance of tempting these nations into the war. If they are successful, then they will bring the strength to drive Khazaria and it's allies from Europe, but if they fail, then they will be left out in the cold.

30th of March

Admiral Iraklis Roberto takes to sea once more, determined to burn his name into the history books of not just The Republic of Kalseran, but of Europe. With the Seaguard at his back, and a vast fleet of Kalseran and The Empire of Reria ships of the line, Iraklis descends upon the sheltered harbour of Chersonesus, on the tip of the province of Kumbag. The harbour has weathered the storm of the combined fleet before, and the soldiers of The Empire of Khazaria, The Kingdom of Stevata and The Kingdom of Teclav rush to man the defences. And yet when the roar of cannon-fire does break, echoing to every corner of the Black Sea, it comes from warships that are anchored beyond the reach of Khazaria's own cannons. Systematically, Iraklis directs his gunners to destroy the harbours coastal batteries, before urging his own ships forward. With the majority of it's defences in tatters, the handful of Khazaria ships that are huddled in the harbour becomes the coastal town's only defence, but they are quickly torn apart by the massed cannon-fire of the Kalseran ships that slip into the harbour. The Seaguard pour out onto the shore, and the battle that follows is bloody and brutal, claustrophobic and frantic skirmishes in smoke-filled streets. The soldiers of Khazaria buckle first, but as the Seaguard look to push their advantage, the soldiers of Stevata and Teclav rally, and from his flagship, anchored in the harbour, Iraklis can see that this is a battle that he will not win outright. Signalling the retreat, Iraklis leads his fleet back into open waters, but not before razing Chersonesus to the ground. For weeks, Kalseran and Reria have dominated the Black Sea, but for the first time, they seem to hold all the aces.

31st of March

The news of the significant victory at the Battle of Chersonesus is still only beginning to spread to the court of The Republic of Kalseran, but Admiral Dionisio Giorgino is already determined not be overshadowed by his comrade's achievements. Gathering a fleet of his own, Dionisio sails west, looking to replicate Iraklis success by hounding the harbours of The Kingdom of Paranas. Perhaps it is blind ambition, or perhaps it is simply foolishness, but Dionisio stumbles into a great folly. While the fleet of The Empire of Khazaria was shattered by the combined fleets of Kalseran and The Empire of Reria, Paranas escaped the carnage with less damage, and have been free to repair their ships. When Dionisio bears down upon the Paranas coastline, expecting to pick off coastal batteries from a safe distance, he is genuinely taken by surprise when a fleet of Paranas sails out to meet him. Paranas still commands more than tow dozen ships of the line, almost comically dwarfing the fleet that Dionisio has been able to muster. By the time he realises his mistake, and ordered the retreat, it is already too late, and the ships of Kalseran and Reria has strayed into the range of the Paranas guns. Just as the roar of cannon-fire echoed across the Black Sea just a day before, so it does again, and what follows is a massacre. The allied Kalseran fleet is all but wiped out, and Dionisio himself is gravely wounded, shrapnel tearing away his right arm as his ships is destroyed around him. It is only the quick thinking of his second-in-command, the young Giovanni Varda, dragging the Admiral clear and securing a dinghy, before rowing back to the safety of The Kingdom of Komentiolos coast. The republic has been dealt a bloody blow, and Paranas has dealt a stark reminder that they may be bowed, but they are far from broken.

Pro Patria Mori - A Tale of Sailships and Muskets II

"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

Spring of 1757

2nd of February

It is clear that for all the impressive strides that it has already made, the Western Alliance still has grand ambitions. After all, the alliance commands territory on no less than four continents, and while other nations of Europe are consumed by war, this grand alliance looks beyond. The trading port of The Kingdom of Hispalis, Fort Avirias, has already proven bountiful, offering a safe haven for the trade ships destined for the long journey around the Cape of Good Hope, and opening the east up for yet more plundering of it's riches. Seeing the success of Fort Avirias, the members of the Western Alliance, The Empire of Grimhout foremost among them, urge Hispalis to push on, establishing another trading port to the south, forging another stepping stone for those ships that travel east, carrying intrepid and bright-eyed traders, and the first glimpse of home for the ships that return west, laden with riches. Hispalis agrees to the project, and word is sent to Fort Avirias to prepare another expedition. Slowly but surely, the reach of Europe, or rather, of the Western Alliance, continues to spread.

4th of February

While the nobility of The Kingdom of Altenten has shifted, manipulated by Philip Lehner, the people of Altenten have kept a watchful and wary eye on their borders. To the north, The Kingdom of Dorist has undergone an upheaval of their own, the ragged remains of the army reducing King Freud into a mere puppet after it's bloody defeat at the hand of it's enemies to the east. To the west, The Principality of Asmont has aligned itself with the growing strength of the Western Alliance, and it can now call upon powerful friends. Meanwhile, The Republic of Kalseran to the south has joined in war against The Empire of Khazaria, standing in open conflict with Altenten's eastern neighbours, The Kingdom of Paranas. Just as Philip Lehner looks to exploit this precarious position, it has caused a feeling of unease to settle among the common people. Unease all too often breeds unrest, and as rumours begin to spread throughout the kingdom, the nobility would be wise to bend their ear. Rumours begin to paint Khazaria as not only savage invaders, but also telling of the great riches that the horse-lords possess. These rumours are dismissed as fantastical by those few that have ventured to the east, but they still capture the hearts of the common folk, and before long, men in taverns are telling grand tales of the fields of gold that Khazaria horde for themselves, and the savagery of these nomads and bandits that threaten destruction to the rest of Europe. The same language was used by Dorist, and that is not surprising, the two nations sharing common ancestors after all, but any lessons that Dorist have learnt from their defeat at the hands of Khazaria are yet to bleed through to their cousins to the south. It will not be long before Altenten bays for blood once more.

5th of February

In the months since Silvio Luciani journeyed to the city of Kalseran, The Republic of Kalseran has not sat idle. The Luciani Ratio is a breakthrough in it's own right, and making use of the research that their new allies The Empire of Reria have already carried out on the ratio, fresh supplies of gunpowder are distributed all along the republic's stretched defensive lines. Perhaps it will still not be enough to weather the incoming storm of the greater numbers that The Empire of Khazaria can bring to bear, but this new gunpowder is a potent mix, and in the brutal confines of all out war, every advantage is precious. The artillerymen of the republic are already visibly excited by this new ratio, and the massed cannons that Kalseran boast have become even more of a thorn in Khazaria's side. When the seemingly inevitable assault does come, neither side will emerge unbloodied.

6th of February

Even as preparation's are made for war, death does not have an unchallenged hold over The Republic of Kalseran. Another child is born to the brother of the Grand Lady of the Republic, and although the babe cannot hope to comprehend it, the birth of Vincenzo A'Dera is a timely reminder of the bond that exists between the ruling families of Kalseran and The Empire of Reria. Even now, soldiers of the empire stand shoulder to shoulder with those of the republic, and ships of the two great naval powers sail together against the enemy to the east. It may have been forged from a shared need, but the alliance between Kalseran, Reria and The Kingdom of Komentiolos has survived it's first great challenge. And yet none of the nations are taking a moment to rest on their laurels, as they are all too aware that The Empire of Khazaria and it's own allies will test that bond once again.

9th of February

When the massed cavalry of The Empire of Khazaria broke through the lines of The Kingdom of Komentiolos at the Battle of Drarama, leaving Alp Tarkhan free to strike at the very heart of the Komentiolos army, there were many the believed the war had been worn. Even in the court of Komentiolos, there were hushed whispers calling for peace, as the bedraggled survivors fled for the relative safety of the coast, and yet when the harsh winter descended, the war machine of Khazaria ground to a halt, and Komentiolos was given precious time. Since then, thousands of fresh souls have been sent to the front lines, defences prepared, commanders reassigned, and the face of the war has changed. Komentiolos now boasts a truly formidable army along it's narrow foothold, conscripts drafted into legions of old, an entire nation committed totally to war, while Khazaria has turned it's attention away from this growing strength, and seems intent on instead challenging the more sparsely defended lines of The Republic of Kalseran to the west, leaving the soldiers of The Kingdom of Stevata and The Kingdom of Teclav to occupy the forces of Komentiolos. Yet for now, all armies seem content to wait behind their earthen fortifications, warily watching the enemy to make the first move. It is in the Black Sea where the most decisive actions are taking place, the combined fleet of Kalseran and The Empire of Reria attempt to make use of their superiority, and yet struggling to crack the hardened defences of Khazaria's fortified harbours. Through all of this, the rest of Europe can only watch on, waiting for the decisive moment that will once again tip the balance one way or the other. Legends are already being written, but for the man that finally breaks the deadlock, his name will echo through eternity.

10th of February

Like waves against the shore, the fleet of The Republic of Kalseran and The Empire of Reria continues to throw itself against the coast of The Empire of Khazaria. With soldiers of The Kingdom of Teclav standing shoulder to shoulder with the newly raised soldiers of Khazaria, the harbours of Khazaria still prove a prize too bloody for the taste of Admiral Iraklis Roberto. Buoyed by their success in holding back the formidable fleet that stands against them, Khazaria look to use the anger of those left beyond the safety of the harbours. While the young, the old and the women are ushered to sanctuary inland, the fishermen, and others that call the shoreline their home, are drafted into Khazaria's armies. Through all of this, the harbours continue to be fortified, more cannons dragged into position, and the guns of the surviving ships of Khazaria brought to bear. Perhaps there was a time where Khazaria would have looked ot sail out and meet the fleet of the enemy, but as the ships of Kalseran and Reria continue to bring ruin to the coastline, the harbours remain defiant, and if the harbours do not fall, then Khazaria does not fall. Soon there will come a time when Admiral Iraklis needs to make a decision, to call off the raids and prepare for another day, or to pay the blood price, and throw all of his strength against the harbours of Khazaria.

11th of February

Prince Christophe is called back to The Empire of Grimhout, but when he embarks on the journey homewards, he does not travel alone. On the personal invitation of Christophe's father, Arch-Duke Jean-Baptise Dervau, Princess Marie, the sole heir to The Kingdom of Arhan, travels north. The pair have quickly grown fond of each other, and few doubt that this official invitation is a chance for the Arch-Duke to officially bless the two young lovers. The significance of the match is lost on no-one, the bonding of two dynasties by direct lines, and signalling the forging of a single kingdom from two. The news is largely greeted warmly by the people of both nations. Both young heirs are well-liked in their own nations, and this pairing represents a master-stroke of diplomacy. If an engagement does emerge, then Arch-Duke Jean-Baptiste Dervaux will have married both of his children into the royal families of his neighbours, not only strengthening his own position, but also the position of the empire, and the position of the Western Alliance.

12th of February

It is The Republic of Kalseran that responds to the offer of The Kingdom of Altenten first. Diplomats frantically rush between the capitals of Kalseran and Etterselt, dark deals struck in the shadows, grand promises made, and from the chaos of it all, an agreement seems to emerge. The offer sent to The Kingdom of Paranas remains unanswered, and as Altenten seems to draw ever closer towards siding with the republic and it's allies, perhaps the balance does begin to tip. In as many years, Altenten has been drawn into two wars, and as armies are once again raised, there are many who will be watching the kingdom with a wary eye, to see if those armies do march to war. The one thorn in the side of the ambitious Philip Lehner is the bond of marriage that links the royal families of Altenten and Paranas, and yet for a man that is driven by his own desires, this bond means little to Philip. Perhaps it would have been enough to dissuade King Leonard II, but the old king is dead, and King Niklas IV does not share the same sentimentality of his father, or at least he is carefully managed to ensure that he does not. Even when the kings uncle, Jakob, tries to implore for peace on behalf of his wife's family, he is blocked at every turn. As the days pass, it seems increasingly likely that Altenten will march to war, whipped into a fervour by the ambition of the true power behind the throne, and the growing disdain of The Empire of Khazaria from Altenten's people.

14th of February

The tensions in the province of Aegyptus have only continued to escalate, the deserts becoming increasingly wild as the influence of The Kingdom of Komentiolos is beaten further and further back. And yet, there is the feeling of change in the air, and as dawn breaks, dark ships slip into the Aegyptus harbour. Relieved of his command at the line with The Empire of Khazaria, General Marcian Augustus has arrived in Aegyptus, and he comes with more than fifty thousand soldiers at his back. Marcian has long been a man jaded by war, and his bloody defeat at the hands of Khazaria have only hardened his heart further. He has orders to quell the rebellion at whatever cost, and he takes to that task with a ruthless vindictiveness. The soldiers under his command are a mix of veterans of those same defeats, or conscripts recently called to service, and they follow Marcian's orders for their own reasons. The veterans have the same jaded view as their commander, and for the conscripts, their thuggery is encouraged, the rebels dehumanised to the point that these soldiers see them as little more than dogs. Entire villages are burnt to the ground, every man, woman and child slaughtered where they stand, and their ashen corpses used as warnings to those that would rise up against Komentiolos. The sheer violence of this butchery turns the stomachs of the nobles, and even Arcadius questions the brutality of his brother's orders, although only to his most trusted friends. Whole swathes of the province eradicated and then set ablaze with a ruthless efficiency, and although many of the rebels are killed, so are countless other innocent souls. The borders are closed with an iron fist, the harbours reduced to military ports, with all incoming trade ships seized and thoroughly inspected. Because of this, the sheer bloodshed that Aegyptus has suffered will not be known to the rest of Europe, or even the rest of Komentiolos, for months, the few stragglers that able to escape the vice dismissed as madmen. And yet it is not the only sign that Komentiolos has drastically shifted it's tone. Decrees are issued all across the kingdom that retreat and surrender will no longer be tolerated. Another loss to Khazaria cannot be allowed, no matter how high the cost. The conscripts that continue to flood across the narrow strait are little more than farmers and labourers, but it is quickly made clear that any desertion or cowardice will be met with severe retribution, with men crucified, or stoned to death. These decrees are archaic, relics from a forgotten age, yet the message is clear. The line has been drawn in the sand, and no matter what comes, Komentiolos will retreat no further, even if it bleeds the kingdom dry, and drags its people into hell itself.

16th of February

The Emperor of the Viswan Empire is dead. Shah Miran is found murdered in his own bedchamber, and in the chaos that follows, the Emperor's first-born son, Shah Jafar, the heir to the empire, is arrested as his murderer. And yet beyond the imperial court, accusations are firmly levelled against the emperors second son, the cunning and ruthless Shah Mal. As the imperial palace continues to be rocked by the scandal, Shah Mal is quick to crown himself as the new emperor, and all across the great empire, local princes forsake their loyalty, and forge their own kingdoms. Several of these new kingdoms swear their fealty to the banished Shah Jafar, while others have loyalty only for their own ambitions. The Viswan Empire has fallen, and while Shah Mal still clings to a formidable kingdom, the empire is a crumbling ruin of it's former might, and as news continues to spread, the eyes of the European powers in the region will be all too aware of the sudden power vacuum in the region. The ambitions of those that serve under the flag of The Republic of Kalseran, The Kingdom of Kehsi and The Empire of Grimhout are not to be underestimated, and as civil war begins to break out between these newly formed kingdoms, rich opportunities may soon present themselves.

19th of February

While The Kingdom of Altenten seems determined to look beyond their own borders, to the north, The Kingdom of Dorist is still nursing it's wounds. The loss of the province of SHardvul has left a bloody wound in the kingdom's side, and while Altenten bays for war, Dorist has focused on it's people. General Albert Riechsand still serves as the true power in the kingdom, and the dashing cavalrymen is attempting to repair the damage wrecked by King Freud. Although the change is barely discernible to all but those who are watching most keenly, the attentions of Dorist have shifted to the west. The trade with The Kingdom of Genstadt has proven crucial to the survival of Dorist, and with the formation of the Western Alliance, the ports of Dorist now find themselves trading with half a dozen more nations, through the suggestion of Genstadt. Although it is a wounded beast, the army of Dorist is still a truly formidable one, their loss to The Kingdom of Stevata largely attributed to the woeful leadership of their king, and if Dorist becomes the next nation to succumb to the honeyed words of peace from The Empire of Grimhout, then the Western Alliance will truly become a power that the rest of Europe cannot safely ignore.

20th of February

Princess Marie has only been a personal guest of Arch-Duke Jean-Baptiste Dervaux for a few days before her pairing with Prince Christophe is blessed by his father. The heir of The Kingdom of Arhan is a charming and beautiful young woman, and before long, the entire court of The Empire of Grimhout is enamoured with her. At a grand ball, held in the honour of both Princess Marie, and the treaty of alliance signed by her mother, the engagement between Marie and Christophe is officially announced. The two proud dynasties will be united through marriage, and preparations are quickly begun for a ceremony grand enough to represent the significance of this marriage. The lovers will attend two ceremonies, the first in Rivierberg, and the second in Cappes, bringing together the great and the good of both nations in celebration.

21st of February

Despite the tensions between the two nations continuing to escalate, the line between The Republic of Kalseran and The Empire of Khazaria has stagnated, for now. Perhaps it is the possible intervention from The Kingdom of Altenten, or perhaps the growing strength of The Kingdom of Komentiolos is drawing the attention of Khazaria elsewhere, but while the bulk of the two armies are content to simply watch each other from over their defences, not everyone is willing to sit idle. General Sotiris Manilo has raised his new corps, and in the darkness, these corps are put to use. With Sotiris at their head, these soldiers of the republic become like wraiths along the line, ambushing any foraging parties or scouts that stray too far from the safety of the Khazaria lines, before melting away into the shadows. For the first time, blood has been shed on the ground between Khazaria and Kalseran, and perhaps these are the thorns that will rouse the beast of Khazaria.

22nd of February

Perhaps it is due to the actions of The Republic of Kalseran, or perhaps it is simply in reaction to the increasing chance that The Kingdom of Altenten is moving to side against them, but The Kingdom of Paranas finally responds to the diplomats of Altenten, serving as a mouthpiece for The Empire of Khazaria. Just as with Kalseran, dark deals are offered, the spoils of war promised in exchange for their aid, but perhaps the response arrived too late, or perhaps the promises of Kalseran were simply more tempting to Philip Lehner, and the diplomats of Paranas return empty-handed. It becoming increasingly clear that Altenten is aligning itself with the republic, and that alone is enough to cause the commanders of The Kingdom of Stevata to turn a watchful eye towards their own borders, and consider withdrawing their forces from the defence of Paranas. It seems as if another player is entering the board, and the war between Khazaria and The Kingdom of Komentiolos has now drawn no less than eight nations into the maelstrom of battle and bloodshed.

25th of February

The stark contrast between the growing alliance to the west and the growing war to the east has been stark for a number of months, but for the first time, the west reaches out to the east. Diplomats of The Empire of Grimhout, travelling with the full authority of the Western Alliance, and accompanied by military observers hailing from half a dozen nations, journey to the grand courts of the eastern nations. Diplomats arrive at the capitals of The Kingdom of Komentiolos, The Republic of Kalseran, The Empire of Khazaria, The Kingdom of Stevata, The Kingdom of Teclav, The Kingdom of Altenten, The Kingdom of Paranas and The Empire of Reria, preaching for the case of peace. The Western Alliance holds significant power through sheer strength, but it is clear that the alliance is attempting to establish it's influence through diplomacy, even going so far as to offer taking the role of negotiator between the two sides. Whether these calls for peace fall on deaf ears or not, only time will tell.

28th of February

In a strange quirk of fate, just as the diplomats of The Empire of Grimhout travel east, diplomats of The Kingdom of Komentiolos travel west. And yet, while Grimhout calls for peace, Komentiolos calls for aid. The courts of Grimhout, The Kingdom of Hispalis, The Kingdom of Arhan, The Kingdom of Kehsi, The Kingdom of Genstadt and The Principality of Asmont are all implored to stand against the barbarous hordes of the east, but it is not only the Western Alliance that is called upon. The court of The Kingdom of Dorist is also visited, as well as the northern nations of The Kingdom of Fosbak, The Kingdom of Orvag and The Empire of Stabuga. Judging by the calls of peace echoing from the Western Alliance, perhaps their answer to these calls for aid may be obvious, but for the other nations, the outcome is more murky. After all, if Dorist can be coaxed back into war, given a chance to avenge their humbling defeat at the hands of The Kingdom of Stevata, then the new leadership of the nation still wields a formidable army. Not only that, but if Fosbak, Orvag or Stabuga are won over by the words of Komentiolos, then Stevata and The Kingdom of Teclav will suddenly find their own borders threatened, perhaps forcing them to abandon their war against Komentiolos. Whatever the response to these appeals, both for peace and for war, the outcome has the potential to change the very face of Europe.

Pro Patria Mori - A Tale of Sailships and Muskets II

"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

Spring of 1757

1st of January

A new year dawns over Europe, but it brings no golden dawn. The war in the east still rages, and only the bitter winter has halted the unrelenting bloodshed. For a brief moment, the naive believed that there was a glimmer of hope, that peace could still be forged from the fires of war, but as new orders are sent across Europe, it quickly becomes clear that neither side is content, and that the bloody carnage will continue into the new year. In stark contrast to the division and bloodshed that plagues the east, the west has seen the emergence of The Western Alliance, a formidable collection of nations brought together by a common cause. With the two alliances of the east locked in war, and the alliance of the west still consolidating it's position, attention quickly turns to those nation's that are yet to declare their allegiance. Power blocs are forming, and to remain out in the cold for too long could spell disaster.

4th of January

In testament to the trust that is already being fostered between the nations of The Western Alliance, the Imperial Palace of Rivierberg, in the heart of The Empire of Grimhout, serves as the staging ground for a monumental gathering. The great military leaders of no less than six European nations are brought together under a single banner. General Fernandez de Malaca and Admiral Bernardo de Bracara from The Kingdom of Hispalis, Admiral Hugues Dubos of The Kingdom of Arhan, General Maximino Torres and Admiral Paulinho Machado of The Kingdom of Kehsi, General Arjen Stork of The Kingdom of Genstadt, General Oskar Gissler of The Principality of Asmont, and General Jean-Luc Masson and Admiral Valery Souchon of Grimhout itself, every man assembled is a formidable commander in their own right, and the meeting may well be the greatest gathering of military minds that Europe has ever witnessed. Men that just months before were pouring over strategy to potentially wage war against each other now find themselves sharing reports, and establishing the combined strength of The Western Alliance. Arch-Duke Jean-Baptise Dervau himself oversees this unusual council, but with war raging in the east, the new alliance cannot rest on it's laurels for too long. Grand strategies are created, battle plans drawn up for a dozen theoretical scenarios, and perhaps even more importantly, the treaties between the nations become bonds of genuine friendship between several of these power military figures. As the gathering draws to a close, the assembled nations pledge to gather again in the early days of next year as well, the War Council of the West, as it has already been dubbed, becoming an annual gathering in rotating capitals of the alliance, with plans already made for Toletum, the capital of Hispalis, to host the council next.

7th of January

It is only the harsh winter and howling storm that has seen the bloody conflict between The Kingdom of Komentiolos and The Empire of Khazaria grind to a halt, but as the weeks pass, the weather begins to show signs of breaking. Men on both sides watch the clouds begin to part with a heavy heart, sailors grim-faced as the winds begin to die down. Perhaps nature has attempted to intervene, to provide both powers with the chance to salvage peace, but nature cannot delay the inevitable for long, nor can it bend wills that are intent on conquest and glory. Komentiolos and Khazaria are ancient enemies, their histories intertwined with each other, and drenched with blood, and in this new age, it is clear that neither power is willing to take a step back, to give any ground to the other. The nations of The Kingdom of Teclav, The Kingdom of Stevata and The Kingdom of Paranas stand beside Khazaria, bonded by cultural heritage, while the alliance between Komentiolos, The Empire of Reria and The Republic of Kalseran is more complicated in it's origin, but no less formidable. Thousands of souls have been lost, the very face of the land changed by the war, and the echoes of this conflict will no doubt already echo for generations, but as the weather slowly improves, both alliances prepare to march to war once again.

8th of January

The Fourth Battle of the Black Sea occurred more than a month ago, the combined fleet of The Empire of Khazaria and The Kingdom of Paranas shattered by the formidable fleets of The Republic of Kalseran, The Empire of Reria and The Kingdom of Komentiolos, but since then, the fierce storm that has descended over the Black Sea has brought an end to any intended naval action by either side. However, as the howling wind slowly begins to weaken, the raging sea begins to settle, Admiral Iraklis Roberto has his orders. The land battle against Khazaria and it's allies may have been dealt a bloody blow, but with the warships of Kalseran and Reria under his command, Iraklis prepares to bring ruin to Khazaria itself. With their own fleet reduced to almost nothing, Komentiolos can only wish it's allies fair sailing, and return the elite soldiers of the Seaguard to the Kalseran cause. When the storm breaks, a formidable fleet will once again sail the waters of the Black Sea, and there is little that Paranas or Khazaria will be able to do to stop them.

10th of January

When The Kingdom of Stevata was dragged into war against The Kingdom of Dorist, The Empire of Khazaria did not hesitate to ride to their aid, and that is not a blood debt that Stevata intends to forget. Soldiers of The Kingdom of Teclav have already been serving alongside Khazaria and The Kingdom of Paranas, but while Dorist has been embroiled in a military coup, Stevata has resolved to lick it's wounds, and cast a watchful eye on their neighbour. And yet in the new year, Dorist diplomats have once again made the journey east, attempting to re-establish diplomatic relations between the two nations, and Stevata has sent it's soldiers to war once again. Thousands of battle-hardened soldiers march south, and yet while many march to join the amassed allied force in the province of Kavatsona, others instead cross the border into Khazaria itself, swelling the garrisons of the coastal provinces that will soon bear the wrath of The Republic of Kalseran and The Empire of Reria. As Stevata marches to defend it's allies weakest point, Teclav also sends more soldiers south, joining with the forces of Stevata along the coast. When the ships of Kalseran and Reria do strike, it will not be against undefended provinces, but instead against the guns of Khazaria and her allies.

12th of January

Even as the ships of The Empire of Reria and The Republic of Kalseran prepare to bring war to the coastline of The Empire of Khazaria itself, Khazaria does not sit idly by. The soldiers of The Kingdom of Stevata and The Kingdom of Teclav have already been welcome re-enforcement to the sparsely defended provinces, but Khazaria is clearly not content with letting the burden of it's own defence rest on the shoulder's of it's allies. Taxes are raised, and new soldiers of Khazaria are raised in a matter of weeks. The fervour of war has gripped the entire nation, whipped into a frenzy by the string of victories that Khazaria has achieved, and the increasingly legendary status of Alp Tarkhan, and thousands of men flock to the call. With it's own fleet bloodied, there is little that Khazaria can do to stop the inevitable assault from the Black Sea, but the proud nation is clearly determined to make the ships of Reria and Kalseran pay a bloody price.

15th of January

The marriage between King Niklas IV and Mira Franz is a joyous occasion, celebrated all across The Kingdom of Altenten, although it is likely that few of those celebrating recognise the significance of the pairing. Phillip no controls yet another voice in the young king's ear, and as his power continue to grow unrivalled, Phillip turns his attention beyond the borders of Altenten for the first time. Refugees from the war in the south have been arriving into Altenten as a slow trickle, and the reports reaching the capital of Etterselt makes for very interesting reading. The Altenten royal family is bonded with the dynasties of both The Kingdom of Paranas, and The Kingdom of Komentiolos, tied to both sides of the bloody conflict, and perhaps Phillip believes it is time for Altenten to choose a side. After all, the young nobleman has already proven himself to be a capable opportunist, and throwing in the kingdom's lot with the right side, at the right time, could see Phillip extend his power even further...

17th of January

Finally, after weeks of howling winds and bitter chill, the storm breaks. The clouds part, and the worst of winter finally seems to have passed, the lashing rain seeming to fade away. And yet there is little celebration. All across the province of Kavatsona, battle-weary soldiers of six different nations grimly take their place in the battle line once more, the ground turned into choking mud by the rain. Both sides know that battle will come once again, and that thousands more will fall, staining the very earth crimson with blood. On all sides of the Black Sea, sailors return to their vessels with heavy hearts, knowing that the waters will be choked by splintered wood and bloated corpses in the coming weeks, the roar of cannon like rolling thunder. Both sides of the war have only doubled down on their intent to wreck havoc, and for the soldier on the ground, there is seemingly no end in sight. They can only fight onwards, until they find peace in the bittersweet embrace of death.

18th of January

The contrast between the two sides of Europe continues to grow more stark by the day. While the young men of the east prepare to sell their souls for those that they care about, lives cut tragically short by the remorseless scythe, the west can concern itself with pursuing love, with the careful dance of courtship. The Kingdom of Arhan is still ruled by Queen Ameline, with the angelic Marie the soul heir to the proud nation. The love triangle between Marie and the respective heirs of The Empire of Grimhout and The Kingdom of Hispalis had been a significant battle before the Arhan conspiracy was unearthed, but now that The Western Alliance has been forged, the borders are once again open. Perhaps it is the result of some unspoken trust, or perhaps it even comes from some secret treaty, but it is only Christophe Dervaux, heir to Grimhout, that travels to the Palace in Cappes. The two young adults, with the weight of two nations resting on their shoulders, reunite, and it seems certain that their love will only continue to flourish. If a wedding is agreed between the two, it will signify not only a hugely significant bond between the two nations, but also arguably one of the most significant pairings that Europe has ever seen, Grimhout and Arhan becoming inseparably intertwined. It is not lost on anyone that any child born from their union would be the heir to dual crowns.

19th of January

Even as the ground continue to thaw, the armies of The Empire of Khazaria do not descend upon the ragged defensive line of The Kingdom of Komentiolos, and Komentiolos does not make the mistake of wasting the respite. Tired bodies are driven onwards to their work, and as the days pass, the battle line becomes a formidable fortress in it's own right. It is around the city of Byzantion that the bedraggled survivors rallied, and it is around the city that these new defences are centred. Under the masterful eye of General Marcian Augustus, deep trenches are cut into the earth, and stake pits, moats and walls of earth appear all along the battle line. Villages and farms are seized and ransacked to form a part of the defensive line, and soldiers of Komentiolos appear to line these new defences at every hour, no matter the weather. As the few remaining civilians are evacuated across the strait, and into the relative safety of Komentiolos proper, and unusual arrivals make the reverse journey. Imperial-Era siege weapons, relics from a bygone era, are brought forth from the forgotten corners that had been left in, and are erected along the new defence lines. Beside the surviving cannons of Komentiolos, they look archaic, but just as a sharpened stick is still a dangerous weapon, so too are these siege weapons. Not only that, but rumours begin to swirl that the Alchemist's Guild have been pouring over their volatile supplies of Greek Fire, and that this mysterious relic of the past has also been brought to the front lines. When the hordes of Khazaria do come, the horse-lords riding against ancient weaponry, there will be many crusaders that find their mind cast back to 'The Golden Horde of Khazaria against the Western Crusaders', some three centuries earlier.

20th of January

Just as the forces The Kingdom of Komentiolos continue to dig in, bracing for the surely inevitable assault, the soldiers of The Republic of Kalseran do not sit idle. General Sotiris Manlio has already proven himself to be a capable commander, leading the recapture of Calassa, but he has been given a new task, in the face of the threat from Khazaria. While General Bettino Gianni commands the extent of the Kalseran defensive line, the soldiers of the republic supported by soldiers of The Empire of Reria, Sotiris has busied himself with training a new division of troops. The Seaguard are formidable soldiers, finely attuned to be the master of their specific battlefield, and it is these practices that Sotiris has attempted to ingrain in these new soldiers. How they will be used still stands to be seen, but it is quickly becoming clear that whether Khazaria and her allies turn to the south, or to the west, they will face a bloody fight to break through.

23rd of January

Whether it is due to the increasingly fortified defensive lines of The Kingdom of Komentiolos, the thinner stretched lines of The Republic of Kalseran, or something else entirely, reports from the province of Kavatsona quickly begin to suggest that the formidable strength of The Empire of Khazaria has turned it's attention to the west. No grand offensive has been launched against Komentiolos, to cast the survivors into the sea, and although reports are admittedly scarce, it is difficult for even a commander of Alp Tarkhan's quality to manoeuvre thousands of cavalry without watchful eyes taking notice. Military commands on both sides of the conflict frantically move to adjust their war plans, and it quickly becomes clear that Kalseran's respite from the wrath of Khazaria was only temporary. Komentiolos has been bloodied, now it is the turn of Kalseran to pay the blood price for this war. The soldiers of the republic will soon be tested in fire, their numbers spread thin across the extensive battle lines between Kalseran and The Kingdom of Paranas, and as the legend of Alp Tarkhan and his riders only continue to grow, the faith of the republic is placed on the shoulders of General Sotiris Manlio and General Bettino Gianni.

24th of January

While the forces of The Empire of Khazaria may be turning their attention away from the defences of The Kingdom of Komentiolos, Khazaria's allies make so much move. The soldiers of The Kingdom of Teclav and The Kingdom of Paranas were crucial in the bloody defeats inflicted upon Komentiolos at the Gelesos Pass, and at Drarama, and the Teclav commander, General Luka Volodin, is a more than capable commander in his own right. Not only that, but fresh soldiers from both Teclav and The Kingdom of Stevata arrive every day, swelling the forces under Luka's command. The Komentiolos fortifications are formidable, but perhaps they have been caught flat-footed. After all, control of the province has been all but wrested from Komentiolos hands, and while the combined strength of Stevata, Teclav and Paranas dissuade Komentiolos from abandoning their foothold, the strength of Khazaria is free to turn west. If the Kalseran line breaks, then Komentiolos will quickly find itself caught between holding their own defences, or marching to the aid of the ally that so readily sailed to theirs. War is never easy, and the delicate balance of power between the two alliances continues to swing one way, and then the other.

26th of January

With the storm broken, war comes to the Black Sea once again. Admiral Iraklis Roberto commands a truly formidable thirty-nine ships of the line, drawn from the naval strength of both The Republic of Kalseran and The Empire of Reria, supported by almost a dozen frigates, and this fleet dwarfs the scattered remains of any fleet that The Empire of Khazaria could hope to call upon. The fleet of The Kingdom of Paranas is in slightly better shape, but they are still dwarfed by the force gathered against them, and for now, they do not sail to war with their ally. The gathered fleet of Reria and Kalseran fall upon the coastline of Khazaria, and begin to lay waste. Countless coastal villages and fishing ports are all but wiped off the map by the overwhelming firepower, but the major harbours of Khazaria do not prove as easy prey. The less than a dozen surviving ships of the line in the Khazaria fleet have retreated behind the coastal defences of these harbours, and they lend their firepower to that of the coastal batteries that the harbours already boast. Newly raised soldiers of Khazaria, as well as men of The Kingdom of Stevata, man these defences, and even the strength of the Kalseran and Reria fleet find that they cannot break through this roar of cannon-fire. The prize of Khazaria's naval heart lies just out of reach, but natural defences are only bolstered by modern ones, and for now, Iraklis resorts to bringing ruin to the harbours that cannot defend themselves.

28th of January

The fleet of The Republic of Kalseran and The Empire of Reria, continue to wreck havoc, and although the naval strongholds and vital shipyards remain untouched, the people of The Empire of Khazaria cannot ignore the charred husks that are being left in the wake of the enemies ships as they continue to raid the coastal settlements. Refugees flock inwards, and with them, the mood begins to turn. War is glorious when it is distant, romanticised by epic poems and songs about braze Khazaria warriors, but when the brutal and ugly reality of war comes to your own shores, it is harder to see the artistic side. Khazaria sleeps while her people are slaughtered, their livelihood burnt and plundered. The people cry out for the fleet of Khazaria to defend it's shores, rather than cower in it's harbours. For now, these voices are largely echoed only by those who have been driven from their homes, but discontent is a dangerous spark, and if it finds kindling, then it can spread like wildfire. Admiral Iraklis Robert may not have struck a killing blow against Khazaria, but his actions have soured the morale of the nation, and that poison can prove just as deadly as any naval action, if it is allowed to spread.

29th of January

The tensions all across the long border between The Republic of Kalseran and The Kingdom of Paranas has been building into a fever pitch. It is by now clearly apparent that The Empire of Khazaria has brought it's full strength west, and stand poised to ride against the soldiers of Kalseran and The Empire of Reria that hold the line. For now though, an eerie silence seems to have descended over the two armies, the calm before the storm, the land itself seeming to hold it's breath. Both sides have drawn up elaborate plans of attack, countless scouts crossing the border to assess the strength of the enemy, and in truth, it is not immediately apparent which army will advance first, which nation will cast the first stone. The famed cavalry of Khazaria are a formidable strength in their own right, but while the soldiers of the republic are far from the well-trained and disciplined men of the line that Khazaria has faced in The Kingdom of Dorist or The Kingdom of Komentiolos, Kalseran does boast one great strength. More than two hundred field guns line the barricades, one of the largest gatherings of sheer firepower that Europe has ever seen, and if Khazaria does throw itself against another nation's defences once again, the roar of cannon-fire will echo all across Europe.

30th of January

The Kingdom of Altenten finally breaks it's silence on the war raging beyond it's eastern border, but if anyone expected it to be a clear stance, then they have underestimated the burning ambition, and calculating cunning, of Philip Lehner. Diplomats are sent to both Kalseran and Alirgos, the capitals of The Republic of Kalseran and The Kingdom of Paranas, with the offer of aid, extended to the two nation's respective alliances. It quickly becomes clear that the Altenten aid comes at a price, and that King Niklas IV, and the puppeteers behind his throne, will patiently wait to see which side makes a more attractive offer. Sharing a border with both Kalseran and Paranas, and boasting a substantial army that has not yet been bloodied by war, Altenten represents a serious strategic boost to whichever side can tempt them. After all, if Altenten dies with Paranas, they would stretch the defensive line of Kalseran beyond breaking point, whereas if they join with Kalseran, they would open a whole new theatre of war against Paranas and The Kingdom of Stevata. Altenten could yet decide this war, but only for the right price.

31st of January

For decades, The Empire of Khazaria has attempted to leave it's nomadic and savage history behind it, attempting to embrace the new age that it finds itself in. And yet in the recent wars, it has been the steppe-riders that have been so devastating, led by Alp Tarkhan, a man who could have stepped from the pages of history. Perhaps in this, The Kingdom of Komentiolos has learnt a bloody victory. In a move than is poignantly reminiscent of when Komentiolos could claim a great empire, the war against Khazaria becomes inherently the war of Komentiolos, the entire nation used to feed the war machine. Every man and woman, all but overnight, is drafted into service. Farmers now provide their yield straight into the mouths of soldiers, every industry is committed to producing more weapons of war, and the first conscription effort of Komentiolos is dwarfed by the second. Tens of thousands of new soldiers are raised from all across the nation, and the army swells to a scale that has not been seen in generations. As these new conscripts already begin to filter across the strait, General Valens Flavius, a man gifted with a silver tongue, travels to take command of the Komentiolos forces in Kavatsona. Beneath Valens, the conscripts find their steel, whipped into a fervour by inspiring words and promises of glory. Komentiolos is now focused on the war, and the war alone, and while the repercussions of this move could well echo across the kingdom for years, it has provided King Nikolaos Andreas Koromelas II with a war machine that is unrivalled in Europe.

Pro Patria Mori - A Tale of Sailships and Muskets II

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Pro Patria Mori - A Tale of Sailships and Muskets II

"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 1756

1st of December

Far from the chaos of Europe, India has been gripped by it's own war. As tensions between The Viswan Empire and The Kingdom of Kehsi show no signs of cooling, blood shed by both sides, the recently arrived colonists of The Empire of Grimhout find themselves caught in the middle of a conflict they have no involvement in. Baptiste Crevier, the man tasked with establishing a foothold for Grimhout in India, finds himself with a difficult choice to make. Although Kehsi are already preparing to retaliate again Viswan for the loss of Fort Ivars, Baptiste carries the seal of Arch-Duke Jean-Baptise Dervau, given the full authority of Grimhout's ruler, and he reaches his own decision. Rather than tying themselves too closely to the abrasive colonists of Kehsi, Baptiste leads his followers north, intending to settle unspoiled lands, away from the brewing war against Viswan.

3rd of December

The marriage between Salma Al Sadat and Arcadius Koromelas has done much to bring a sense of order to the province of Aegyptus, but as time has passed, the initial joy of the marriage has waned. The rich families of the province, most hailing from The Kingdom of Komentiolos, or at least tracing their family line back to the illustrious history of the kingdom, have welcomed the move, yet this influence does not extend far beyond the lavish villas of these great families. Unrest has plagued the tendrils of Komentiolos that dare to stray too far into the desert, and that unrest has only gathered momentum. The province is defended by a respectable garrison, but they are thinly stretched, and it is almost impossible to fight an enemy that seems to dissapear into the sands. Not only that, but it is becoming increasingly clear that these rebellious nomads are not acting alone. Weapons of war have been smuggled into the province, and there seems to be some uniting power amongst the various tribes that call the shifting sands home. Accusations understandably fly towards The Empire of Khazaria, but for now, reports continue to reach Arcadius, and in turn, his brother, King Nikolaos II, and they make for grim reading.

5th of December

Winter continues to close in on the province of Kavatsona, and perhaps a less experienced commander would lower their guard, expecting no army to try and push through the biting chill and frozen ground. The Kingdom of Komentiolos is fortunate then, that Marcian Augustus is far from a less experienced commander. Even as the snow begins to fall, Marcian continues to drill his troops, ever strengthening his defensive lines for the assault that he knows in his bones will come. And as the makes a rare appearance through the clouds, that assault comes. The armies of Komentiolos and The Empire of Reria have been careful to use the very terrain of the province as their first line of defence, and in truth, there was always one point through which the inevitable attack was likely to flow. The Gelesos Pass is a narrow break in the mountains, and it is around this pass that Marcian has ensured his defences are strongest. Considering the considerable reputation of the assembled leaders that the enemy has gathered, Marcian may have wondered about the validity of such an obvious advance, but for all of his grit and experience, Marcian Augustus is not an imaginative man, and he will always fight the enemy in front of him, and he moves ot take command of the defence personally. As the very ground rumbles beneath marching feet, the roar of cannon-fire from both armies signals the beginning of The Battle of Gelesos Pass. The conscripts of Komentiolos have swollen the defensive lines, tens of thousands of young men valiantly pledging to defend their nation, their numbers only limited by the number of weapons that Komentiolos could provide, and entrenched behind their fortifications, morale is high. The gathered force of The Empire of Khazaria, The Kingdom of Teclav and The Kingdom of Paranas is formidable in their own right, but they face an enemy that has dug in, and refuses to be dislodged. Assault after assault is beaten back by massed musket fire, and the roar of cannon, and Marcian commits his reserves to shore up the line wherever it threatens to buckle. Finally, after hours of this bloody cycle, and as the sun begins to fade, the assault ends as quickly as it began, and celebrations erupt all along the Komentiolos and Reria line. The savages have been sent scurrying back, Komentiolos has won an impressive victory, and the conscripts have tasted battle and emerged triumphant. There is only one man who does not celebrate, Marcian Augustus. As the grizzled veteran surveys the carnage of war, he cannot ignore the feeling in his gut. The famed cavalry of Khazaria did not ride through the pass, and for all the supposed brilliance of the Khazaria commanders, surely this attack was always doomed to fail? Regardless, reports are sent back to Komentiolos and Reria, and celebrations continue into the night.

6th of December

It does not take long for The Empire of Khazaria to play it's hand. Thousands of soldiers of Khazaria, The Kingdom of Paranas and The Kingdom of Teclav have sacrificed their lives in the Gelesos Pass in order to provide the opportunity for one gambit. To the east, miles away from the pass, shadows descend from the mountains. Kavatsona was Paranas land, and it is still the men and woman of Paranas that know it's secrets. During the night, a host of Khazaria and her allies have moved along half-forgotten paths through the hills, and an hour before dawn breaks, when the air is still bitingly cold, chaos erupts along the defensive lines of The Kingdom of Komentiolos. Although thousands of civilians fled before the invasion of Komentiolos, there are still mean and woman of Paranas that did not flee, and in the shadows of the night, as the conscripts celebrate the victory to the west, these men and woman have moved silently towards the Komentiolos lines, leaving the nearby village of Drarama. Fires break out amongst the tents, barricades are torn down, and while the soldiers of Komentiolos and The Empire of Reria are still in disarray, the gathered host charges. The ground is littered with caltrops, so it is the massed infantry that leads the charge, descending upon the defensive lines. The battle is bloody and confined, men often fighting hand-to-hand in the darkness and the chaos, and every inch that Khazaria, Teclav and Paranas advance is watered with blood, but as dawn finally begins to break, the line buckles. A path is quickly cleared through the fortifications with brute force, and as the infantry continues to beat back the reeling defenders, the cavalry of Alp Tarkhan can finally ride to war. The line of Komentiolos has been breached, and as word reached Marcian Augustus to the west, the grizzled veteran realises with a heavy heart that he has been played. The Battle of Drarama has been won by Khazaria and her allies, and now that the line is breached, Alp Tarkhan is free to run riot once more.

7th of December

Marcian Augustus is an accomplished commander, a man who has looked into the face of death and stood defiant, but he cannot be everywhere at once. The massed army of The Empire of Khazaria, The Kingdom of Teclav and The Kingdom of Paranas advances through the Gelesos Pass once more, while the army to the east continues to push deeper into Kavatsona itself. The news of the defeat has almost broken the morale of the conscript soldiers that line the remaining defences, and Marcian quickly realises that The Second Battle of Gelesos Pass will be a very different affair from the first. Reports continue to flood in of the vast advances that Alp Tarkhan and his riders are making, and as he stands over a map of the province, Marcian quickly realises how fragile his position has suddenly become. The claws of the pincer are closing by the hour, and despite the iron will of Marcian, he knows that only death awaits his men if he hesitates. The main battle lines of The Kingdom of Komentiolos and The Empire of Reria are lost, but there is a second line, close to the coast, and it is to these that Marcian signals the retreat. A valiant rearguard remains to try and hold back the enemy pushing from the north, while Marcian rallies the remaining survivors and pushes south with all haste. The day is surprisingly clear, and that quickly proves to be both a blessing, and a curse. The retreat makes good progress, but the mild temperature suits the riders of Alp Tarkhan, and it is not long before the massed cavalry of Khazaria and her allies descends upon Marcian Augustus and his men. Faced with riders drawn straight from nightmares, the morale of the remaining conscripts finally shatters, and their ordered retreat becomes a frantic flight. Against organised defences, and a wall of dug in defenders, even the famed cavalry of Khazaria is a blunt weapon, but on open ground, against fleeing and panicked men, they become a barbers razor, and under the legendary command of Alp Tarkhan, that razor's blade becomes wicked indeed. The fleeing conscripts are cut down with a ruthless and brutal joy, but in their deaths, they do buy Marcian precious time, and finally, the surviving defenders of Kavatsona reach the second line, built around the provincial capital of Byzantion. With the sea at their back, Marcian does not allow his men a moment's respite, ordering them to man the defences, and prepare to sell their lives to hold the line, but the assault never comes. As the massed infantry of the enemy, under the capable command of Yitzhak ha-Sangari, continues it's steady advance, Alp Tarkhan and his riders occupy themselves with cutting down the last straggling deserters, rather than attempt to break the Komentiolos lines. For now, Komentiolos has survived, but they have been dealt a sickeningly bloody blow, and their control of Kavatsona has been beaten back to the coast. Marcian can only pray that the weather turns, and makes any assault impossible, but with Komentiolos just across the strait, Marcian will not retreat a step further. This is where he will hold the line, until the last soldier of Komentiolos has been cut down.

8th of December

News of the bloody battles between the allied armies under The Kingdom of Komentiolos and The Empire of Khazaria are read with an almost morbid curiosity by nations all across Europe, but one of Khazaria's former enemies, The Kingdom of Dorist, has it's own issues to handle. The powerful noble families of Dorist have been plotting against General Albert Riechsand for weeks, but they have been betrayed. In the darkness of the night, soldiers of Dorist, all across the nation, burst into lavish manors and drag nobleman from their beds. The self-proclaimed leaders of the plot are executed with brutal efficiency, with their followers thrown into prison. Younger noble families, who had no love for the older, established families, are all too happy to take the places of their predecessors, and they are wise enough to pledge their loyalty to Albert Riechsand. Overnight, the young general has all but seized control of the nation, and it quickly becomes clear that the royal family has become a mere figurehead, allowed to keep their title and position only due to the whim of Albert. Wolfgang Draton looks on, doing nothing to challenge his young peer, but the other military leader of Dorist does not sit so idly by. However if Admiral Karl Young wanted to challenge Albert, then he is quickly foiled. Seized by his own men, and arrested for treason, Karl is accused of leading the disastrous naval action against The Kingdom of Stevata of his own will, acting against Dorist, and against his king. His protest falls on deaf ears, and a message is sent north, to The Kingdom of Fosbak, to offer the disgraced admiral as a peace offering between the two nations.

10th of December

Even as their allies are swept away, the soldiers of The Republic of Kalseran watch nervously on. General Bettino Gianni has been ordered to hold the line, and he has constructed formidable fortifications all along the border between Kalseran and The Kingdom of Paranas, preparing for the offensive that he thought was inevitable. After all, the Kalseran line was stretched thinner than that of The Kingdom of Komentiolos and The Empire of Reria, and yet The Empire of Khazaria has already played it's hand, pushing south rather than west with almost shocking success. Kalseran suddenly finds itself holding an even longer line, rushing to plug the hole in the defences in the province of Helensa. For now though, as the weather continues to deteriorate, Bettino can only continue to dig in. The foothold that Komentiolos and Reria has forged has been all but wiped away, and with their allies almost shattered, Kalseran suddenly find's it's own position to be increasingly precarious. All too aware of this, Luisa A'Dera writes to her brother, Isidoro, and implores him to ask for even greater aid from his father-in-law, Emperor Clarenzio III. Reria blood has been spilt, but as the entire region seems to teeter on the brink, Kalseran calls for more sons to be sent to war. With a heavy heart, even as chaotic and damning reports continue to flow in, Clarenzio agrees, and soldiers of Reria travel to the Kalseran lines. After all, if Kalseran should fall, then Reria would be the one with the most to lose.

13th of December

Tsesarevich Petya Barinov has been a guest of The Kingdom of Fosbak for weeks, and in truth, Petya seems to have found a kindred spirit in Queen Marta II. Despite the age difference between the two, they have quickly become fond friends, sharing similar interests in music and the arts. This bond seems to reflect the solidarity that is felt between Fosbak and The Empire of Stabuga, two nations that find themselves in very similar situations. New power blocs are emerging all across Europe, and it seems to be quickly becoming a race for the remaining nations to choose sides. Fosbak did not interfere in the war just south of it's borders, despite lobbying from both sides of the line, but that has all but severed what bonds Fosbak did hold with the south, and with The Kingdom of Kehsi continuing to align itself with The Empire of Grimhout, and even the historical ally of The Kingdom of Orvag seeming to be drawn to the increasingly powerful alliance of The Kingdom of Teclav, The Kingdom of Stevata and The Empire of Khazaria, Fosbak is in need of friends. In Stabuga, Queen Marta seems to see that, and treaties are drawn up on both trade and friendship. The murmurs of a potential alliance in the future is warmly greeted, and it is with a heavy heart that Petya finally embarks on his journey home, promising to write to Marta before long. The heir to the empire has not only proven himself a capable diplomat, but he has also made a very valuable friend.

14th of December

Winter has truly arrived with vengeance, and even as temperatures plummet, and most of eastern Europe is buried beneath snow and ice, Marcian Augustus allows himself a silent prayer of thanks. The advance of The Empire of Khazaria and it's allies at the start of the month was a surprising move, and the soldiers no doubt paid a price for the effort of pushing through the bleak weather, but in these hellish conditions, even the hardy men of Khazaria cannot hope to mount any significant assault. Fate has apparently intervened, and until the weather clears, the line of The Kingdom of Komentiolos and The Empire of Reria will hold. The winter storms have swept across the Black Sea, sending ships of all nations scattering to the safety of their own harbours, and in the howling wind, there is a brief moment of peace.

16th of December

Despite the aid of their allies, The Republic of Kalseran and The Empire of Reria, the fleet of The Kingdom of Komentiolos has been all but wiped out, the wrecks littering the coastline of the Bosporus, but King Nikolaos II clearly wants to try and salvage something from the defeat. The surviving cannons are rescued from these wrecks, and dragged to the front lines in Kavatsona, the sailors that survived the bloodshed given muskets, and sent to bolster the defending army. The numbers are meagre, and few guns can really be salvaged from the wrecks, but it is still the first bit of good news to reach the beleaguered defenders, and any boost to morale is welcomed by General Marcian Augustus, the man ordered to hold the line.

19th of December

While the east continues to descend into chaos and bloodshed, The Empire of Grimhout continues to serve as a paragon of peace in the west. With The Principality of Asmont and The Kingdom of Kehsi already brought into the fold, influence growing in The Kingdom of Arhan by the day, and treaties delivered to The Kingdom of Hispalis, Grimhout turns it's attention to the west once more, and The Kingdom of Genstadt. Queen Margriet I is accustomed to finding herself caught in the middle, but as unrest grips Dorist to the east, and Asmont is already benefiting from it's new bond with Grimhout to the south, the young queen finds it hard to argue against the case put forward by the Grimhout diplomats. It is only the silence from Hispalis that gives Margriet cause for hesitation, and for now, no treaties are signed. Both Grimhout and Genstadt turn to Hispalis again, as the wait for a response continues to grow. However, Grimhout is not idle in the shadows either. Rumours have always circulated of the network of spies and informants that have operated under 'Monsieur Pierre', and as chaos continues to bleed from the east like a cancer, shadowy figures move to the courts of Dorist, and The Kingdom of Altenten, keeping a watchful eye on the tumultuous situation that both nation's are currently in the grips of.

21st of December

Finally, The Kingdom of Hispalis breaks it's silence. As the development of the Vera Engine continues to revolutionise the very fabric of the nation, the diplomatic party of The Empire of Grimhout embarks homewards. When they finally arrive at the court of Arch-Duke Jean-Baptise Dervau, the news they bring is just as revolutionary as the engine. Jean-Baptiste had implored for peace, and clearly that note has struck true with King Charles XII, and treaties have been signed that will shape western Europe for generations. The two historic rivals have not only settled their differences, but have effectively become allies, and as the momentum of this groundbreaking revelation sweeps through Grimhout and it's neighbours, The Kingdom of Genstadt quickly falls in line, and the influence over The Kingdom of Arhan see's another nation flock to this new testament of peace and brotherhood. Trade routes are drawn all across the west, and while the east continues to war, the powers of Grimhout, Hispalis, The Kingdom of Kehsi, The Principality of Asmont, Arhan and Genstadt have united under a single banner of peace.

22nd of December

As the wind continues to howl over Kavatsona, the disparity between the east and west of Europe has never been more obvious. While the nations of the west unite, the nations of the east continue to engage in bloody war. The soldiers of The Kingdom of Komentiolos and The Empire of Reria that still hold the line are ragged, and bloodied. They have seen war, they have seen their brothers and friends cut down beside them, and frozen corpses litter the province. What advantage the conscripted soldiers gave has been all but lost, and the storm has blunted the strength of the combined fleet. The that will come, the weather will clear, and when it does, Marcian Augustus knows that he will be facing the combined strength of The Empire of Khazaria, The Kingdom of Teclav and The Kingdom of Paranas yet again, and despite his own grit, Marcian knows that holding the line will be bloody, but he cannot break. If the line breaks here, then Komentiolos itself will be open to the savages, and that cannot be allowed.

23rd of December

Unaware of the great strides that his home nation has made in Europe, Baptiste Crevier makes his own strides in the name of The Empire of Grimhout. In the northern reaches of India, a colony of Grimhout is finally established, a humble trading port and rudimentary fort now, but Baptiste has ambition, and with the rich trade that the new alliance of western Europe will inevitably bring, the colony of Grimhout will only grow. However, Baptiste is not the only leader with grand designs for India. Even while The Republic of Kalseran braces itself for war, a ship has sailed west, carrying most precious cargo. The wishes of Maria Toleas have been granted, and the noblewoman has been granted almost total authority of the republic's own colonies in India, and although she has been issued with a stern warning that she is of the republic and for the republic, the bloodshed for The Kingdom of Kehsi has already proven how cumbersome it is for the powers of Europe to try and control their colonies directly. With Maria and Baptiste attempting to carry out their own ambitious schemes, and Kehsi preparing to seek vengeance against The Viswan Empire, India is a powder keg, just waiting for someone to strike a match.

26th of December

The alliance that has emerged in western Europe may well champion peace, but it boasts a formidable military strength. The combined fleets of The Empire of Grimhout, The Kingdom of Hispalis, The Kingdom of Kehsi, The Kingdom of Arhan and The Kingdom of Genstadt simply dwarfs anything that other nations of Europe can produce, and yet it quickly becomes clear that Grimhout is not willing to rest on these laurels. The shipyards along the empire's coast come to life, and work begins on almost a dozen new ships of the line. It will be months, if not years, before these ships can sail under the Grimhout flag, and who knows what they will face when they do, but it is still a clear sign of intent, and perhaps even a warning to the rest of Europe, that this new alliance is all too aware that the greatest symbol for peace, is military strength.

27th of December

In less than a month, the situation in the province of Kavatsona has been upended. The armies of The Kingdom of Komentiolos and The Empire of Reria have been broken, driven back almost into the sea itself, and the defensive line of The Republic of Kalseran is stretched precariously thin, even with the welcomed re-enforcement from Reria. Of Kalseran's twin strengths, the formidable fleet has been forced to seek safe harbour as the tempest continues to rage, but the Seaguard is still a formidable weapon. Perhaps in simple recognition of the fact that the generals of Komentiolos are more accomplished than those of the republic, this weapon is effectively placed in the hands of Komentiolos. While their allies no doubt decide what to accomplish with these elite soldiers, Kalseran does not rest idle, and General Sotiris Manilo begins work on a task that for now, is spoken about only in hushed whispers, and murmurs in the shadows.

28th of December

The sailors of The Kingdom of Hispalis that left their home nation months ago to settle a trading port on the western coast of Africa will scarcely recognise the face of Europe now, and as the first reports and traders reach the newly established port, they certainly make for surprising reading. Beneficial service is offered to the ships of The Kingdom of Kehsi and The Empire of Grimhout that pass the port, sailing back and forth between Europe and the rich bounty of India, and as the port continues to grow in influence and prosperity, it serves as an open reminder of the fact that the western alliance commands influence in not only Europe, but Africa, India and the Americas. The treaties that have been signed by the five nations has created what has to be considered the first truly global power.

30th of December

Anna Koromelas has seen her entire life change in just a year. Her marriage to King Nikolaos II seems like a lifetime ago, and as she stands in the narrow window of the Cyprus villa that has served as her home for the last weeks, heavily pregnant with the heir of The Kingdom of Komentiolos, she allows herself a moment of calm. Anna is a bright young woman, and she has not been ignorant to the slew of reports and letters that her husband has been receiving. She is all too aware that the war against The Empire of Khazaria has faltered, that Komentiolos blood has been shed, just as she it all too aware of the problems that her own home nation faces. So significant is the child that she bears, that she was unable to safely attend her own father's funeral, but in the aftermath, she can easily read between the lines of her sister's letters. She knows how meek her younger brother is, and she knows that there will be those who enforce their own will on his. But from this narrow window, what can she do? Pulling her coat tighter around her against the chill that has descended even over the Mediterranean, Anna wonders, not for the first time, what kind of world her child will be born into.

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

I'll shamelessly bump this for a first and final time, but if there's no interest, then there's no interest.

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

"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

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Welcome one and all to the second iteration of 'Pro Patria Mori'. Now is the time for you to take on the role of a nation's proud leader, and carve out your people's place in a changing world. The year is 1756, and the world is shifting, old powers suddenly finding themselves rubbing shoulders with new and growing nations. Greedy eyes have turned towards the riches of foreign lands, even while the threat of war still hangs over Europe like a dark cloud. The decisions that you make will decide how the coming years will be remembered; whether you lead your nation into a golden age, or plunge into the maelstrom of war, is entirely in your hands.

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This is an interest check/recruitment check for this roleplay. We have unfortunately had a few players that have had to drop out, and as we come towards the end of the first year, it is an ideal time for any new players to jump onboard!

If you've found your way here, I'd appreciate anyone who goes and peruses the roleplay so far, and maybe even sees something they like! If you are interested in taking part, don't hesitate to get in touch, either by posting here, or by sending me a PM, and we can work out how to get you involved. Whether you're interested in political intrigue, careful diplomatic manoeuvring, or the strategy of war, there is a place waiting for you.