[FCN RP] 1845: Gunpowder & Sail (IC/PT/Closed)

[FCN RPing]

This RP is for members of the Federation of Conservative Nations.

The year is 1845, and the world is on the cusp of major changes. Steam power is just coming on the scene, and is poised to revolutionize Commerce and transportation. Military technology is changing rapidly. Nations are emerging and spreading across the globe.

From the frigid south to the mountainous northeast, the tropical regions to paradise-like Islands, events are about to occur that may transform history.

RP OOC thread is here: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=460953
RP Application and main Dispatch is here: https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=1171289
RP Timeline Dispatch is here: https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=1177903

Welcome to Gunpowder & Sail.

Map (full size here):

[FCN RPing]

Initial RP Posts

January

Gran Argreriana (link)
January 1st, 1845
On the Santa Lucia, a 74 gun ship of the line off the coast of Gran Argreriana

A young midshipman walks the top deck, gunners clean their cannons, and a marine sits idly by, snorting snuff as he watches the sea. This Marine is a young man, no more than 25 years, wearing a long black cloak over his bright yellow and blue uniform. his forage cap in adorning the cross of santiago. He had been a marine in His Imperial Majesty's Navy for about 6 years, and knew a good officer from a bad one, and this young man was definitely a bad one thought the young marine. he snorted abit of snuff and watched a gull swoop down and steal a fish form the ocean's dark grasp. it was about dusk, and the sun shined on the black ocean like diamonds. They were headed for port on San Fernando in the barangay of Santa Lucia. There they would find wine, women and mischief aplenty, as seamen always do. He looked down at his naval pattern musket and sighed as the bayonet blade had begun to rust from the seawater, he thought long and hard about how he would have to clean it fervently to make sure it sparkled. They were due in port in 2 days, and he would have to clean vigorously to even hope to impress the admiral who would be meeting them at the port. the admiral was, of course, of the blood, as all officers in the army, navy, and even imperial artillery corp had to be, and this meant that the admiral would not look kindly on a lowly commoner being out of sorts. He heard his friend call out to him "Hey, Marcos!" said his friend, "I can't wait to make port, finally get me some good wine!". Marcos nodded, and leaned back against the mast, of which there were three on this massive ship of the line. It wasn't the pride of the fleet, far form it, that honor belonged to the HIMS Espirito Sancto, a new fangled steam ship propelled by paddles, and armored with the best wood the island nation could get it's hands on. he looked up at his friend, now reaching his hand out for some snuff, and gave it to him. Marcos eyed him up and down and said "You will eventually have to find your own, Miguel." Miguel laughed and replied "Not if I still have you here brother!", suddenly, the captain stepped on the deck and everybody jumped to attention, saluting in the usual Gran Argreriana way of holding their hand just above their heart, shouts of "Viva Gran Argreriana! Viva El Emperador!" sounded out. The captain waved them away to go back to their daily duties, making his final preparations to make port. almost as if all at once, it was dark, and the young marine wasn't on duty anymore, he went to the lower decks and grabbed a cot, spreading out and sleeping like a seamen does, rough and at the ready. It would be a long 2 days until they finally reached port, thought Marcos.

New Gandor (link)
January 1, 1845
The south eastern border of New Gandor.
11am

"FIRE!" BWOOSH The three guns of Battery A opened up spraying canister shot into the mass of loyalist raiders, falling many. Skirmishes have been going on between the New Gandorian soldiers and the bands of the last known group of Monarchists from the old regime. The same actions have taken place the past couple days. They fire out of range (for their old , no one is hit, they charge, we load canister, fire, they run, repeat. However the 2nd New Union regiment was in for a suprise. This time the loyalists got brave and got close enough to fire. 4 men have fallen with wounds, stretcher bearers came and took them away. The cannons were barking but the loyalists advanced anyways. Colonel Joshua Williamson noticed this and assembled his staff for a quick meeting "Alright gentlemen here is what's about to happen, Sergeant Richard silence the guns we are going to suprise them with a musket volley. Sergeant Jackson as soon as those guns silence wait about 10 seconds and fire. Any questions? None, alright let's move!" Sergeant Richard sprinted to the 6lbers and told them to "hold your fire!" The guns went silent. 1... Jackson went over to the men and told them to load their muskets, 2... the loyalists started sprinting towards the New Gandorian lines. 3... Jackson sweat at this sight and murmurs went down the line, the moment became tense, waiting for a command, 4...5... the loyalists start to shout a almost banshee like scream. 6... "READY! 7...8... "AIM!" The loyalist line was feet away bayonets fixed and blood thirsty. 9... "FIRE!" 10... the volley ripped down the line and a smoke curtain went up. The next few seconds were quiet. Jackson looked through the smoke. The loyalists were gone, shattered. The few men that stood were limping away. No flag stood, no officers giving commands. Colonel Williamson and the 2nd New Union had done it. They had defeated the final group of loyalists. Cheers went up, friends embraced. The Republic had no more ties to it's old oppressors. Prisoners were captured, the wounded taken care of, and a night of drinking, games of poker, and euchre were ahead. Some of the men even held an impromptu baseball game. A feeling of freedom and overall high morale swept the 2nd New Union. That night would be a good night.

Eire-Alba (link)
January 1st 1845
The Royal Palace in Dùn Èideann.
1:00 P.M.
The clan leaders meet with King Revan MacCarthy I to make a constitution that will give the Clans powers in the government that is not just advising the king. The leader of Clan Harding, James Harding, proposes to start a formation of a new group of people who may become king if any King from King Revan MacCarthy I onwards does not produce a heir. James Harding proposes to call this new group the “Lords”. He also proposes to formally create a council of clans and to call it the “Assembly” to help make decisions that effects either all or the majority of the clans. These “Lords” would be consisted of anyone that is: (1) a leader of a clan, (2) family of the King, (3) nominated by the King and approved by the “Assembly”, or (4) is the children of any previous possibility through marriage. A small group of clans, lead by the leader of Clan Collins, Alfred Collins, thinks that is not a good first step. The King agrees to James Harding’s proposal and declares that “this will be a good first step to a balanced government” then he dismisses the meeting to continue next week or when next called.

[Rivine]

January 1st 1845
Druska
9:00AM

Following the death of his cousin, Magnus IX is crowned the monarch of Druska. Druska was a dreary place, it's terrain as cold, hard and harsh as the people who resided there. The Drusken could still feel the bitter embrace of lost glory. Once they were conquerors, their sails known and respected throughout the world. Decades ago, however, an amalgamation of wars, independence movements and natural disasters led to the collapse of the Druskan Empire, only leaving the mainland left. Now the Drusken were known throughout the Piscis sea for piracy.

The newly crowned Magnus IX vows to restore the Kingdom to it's former glory, and announces his intention to move invade the Isle of Umea. Umea is an island east of the Drusken peninsula once revered as a holy place to them. The Drusken are slow to forgive and never forget.

[Gagium]

January 3, 1945
Holston, Capital of Gagium

Gagium. A country of massive, snow-topped peaks, endless forests, and expansive shrub-ridden tundras. During the winter months, snowstorms blanketed the country in up to several feet of snow, leaving most travel routes closed during the winter months, as the rivers and oceans froze over until late April. The over 2 million populace of Gagium were restricted to their homes and towns during the winter months, otherwise they'd risk dying on the several-mile journey out of their town to find supplies or visit family. Whole towns starved during the 1600s and 1700s during unfortunate winters, and the short period of available farming led to famine, should harvest be meager.

However, despite these hardships, the 2 million plus population of Gagium endured, year after year, decade after decade. The advent of the industrial age mere decades before saw an increase in quality of life for everyone (Except the natives to the south). The iron mining industry centered around the parish of Pinerun saw a boom in 1843 with the construction of the first railway in Gagium, intended to service the expanding mines of the country. The mining industry and industrial boom was powered by the coal mines in Gausil and Bething.

On this particular day, a fiery snowstorm laid 8 inches of snow onto the already snow-laden city of Holston. Holston was the largest city in Gagium, having a population of 82,000, and the economic center of the nation's agricultural and manufacturing industries. It was also the center for the nation's military of 23,000; Of those, the 1st Infantry Brigade of 4,000 men and the 5th and 6th Cavalry Regiments of 1,000 men each were stationed in the city. Their duty during the winter months largely dealt with assisting the city's government and people in road clean-up.

The 2nd Company of the 4th Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment was tasked to deliver supplies and ammunition to Fort Monger, the southernmost fort in the parish of Redforge. Despite the invention of the telegraph line years before, the system has yet to be applied in Gagium, and communication still relied on long ventures ranging up to hundreds of miles across poorly maintained paths or by sea.The 2nd Company set out in the morning of January the 3rd, with Captain Joel Cobb leading the cavalry set out along the Holston post road leading southwest. Enclosed carriages of food and ammo followed the cavalrymen, and by afternoon the Company traveled several miles away from Holston; However, the journey to Fort Monger would take around two weeks or more, depending on how the weather played out.

January 6, 1945
Holston Post Road
The cavalry company's progress slowed tremendously as they came upon over three feet of snow and a fallen tree blocking the post road. As the horses slowly trotted through the snow, several arrows unleashed from the forest, and dozens of pale natives in fur coats waving bows and wooden spears revealed themselves. The forward section of the caravan dismounted with their rifles and returned fire, while the back section moved alongside the carriages to defend their cargo. However, a carriage containing ammunition and rifles was set on fire by a break in the caravan's formation before the natives regrouped. A final wave of fire from the cavalry killed six of them as they retreated; In total, seven of Gagium and twenty-three natives were dead from the skirmish, as well as six horses of the caravan. the cavalry prepared to set up camp for the day and recover as night settled. A night watch throughout the wee hours of the night and morning was set up, though the cavalry's expedition was safe as the morning sun raised itself above the night.

[Furbish Islands]

Bay of Kanton
Kanton City-Province, Furby Island
Late morning, 4-1-1845

The paddles of a steamship hit the water, propelling the ship across. Above, columns of smoke were blown past the ship. Several men on the ship checked on its engines, and one filled them with coal. Despite weapons being present aboard the ship, it was not a military vessel, and it had guns to deal with hostile natives. Inside were creates carrying valuable cargo, possibly sugar and spices by the smell. The cash crops of the south were profitable, and one of the drivers of the Furbish economy. Any person who dips his hands in the market can become extremely wealthy. As long as he was the owner of the plantation, not the laborer. While the workers of the ship were well aware of the source of their cargo, no one seemed to mind. After all, they had nothing to do with it, and could not change anything if they wanted. Their task was to move it to a different location within the country. The port of Kanton began disappearing as the ship moved forward. As it did, it was passed by another ship. This ship was a military ship, and it was not there to carry sugar and spices.

The soldiers on the ship wore the standard infantry uniform with black trousers and a dark blue coat. On their sides were sabers, and each soldier carried a musket. The soldiers’ ship moved past the cargo ship. The port of Kanton, along with an assortment of other ships, began materializing from the horizon. The ship steamed ahead towards the port. Corporal Howard Kraaijenzang watched the ships entering and leaving the port, and his ship moving past them. They each carried various cargo in their holds. Kraaijenzang recognized some ships as passenger ships, carrying people to and from the port city. Many of the other ships held cargo. Cereals could not grow in the tropical climate of the south, and had to be imported from elsewhere. From the port, ships carried cash crops, including sugar, cotton, spices, and some fruits. Some of the ships may have been packed with slaves as well, who will be put to work on the many plantations. Kraaijenzang’s ship soon began slowing down and approached a dock on the far side of the harbor near a series of stone buildings. This is the location of the Kanton garrison, and where Kraaijenzang will be staying for possibly a few months.

The new garrison commander, Major Frederick Borthwell, marched off the ship first, followed by the rest of his soldiers in a single file line. The gold shoulder boards and gold stripes on his lower sleeves showed Borthwell’s rank of major. Kraaijenzang marched towards the front of the line. He observed his new barracks. Lines of stone buildings stood, with a stone wall separating them from the jungle. This was the only location with a wall. The rest of the city was surrounded by trenches, which were unmanned since the Kanton Uprising of 1842. Cannons stood along the wall. Past the housing and before the wall, there was an armory and storehouse. Kraaijenzang spotted soldiers in the barracks, and some marching near the trenches throughout the city. Most were the blue coated line infantry, but there was an occasional horse mounted redcoat and entirely green clad light infantry. The city of Kanton did not look like a modern city. Many roads were unpaved, and houses are one story and look hastily built from cheap materials. All except some main roads and areas surrounding the port. But Borthwell looked surprised to see much of what was there.

Borthwell was a veteran of the uprising, sent to the city in the first deployment when he was a captain. The two owners of the South Furbish Trading Company first acquired the land which the barracks stood from the natives three years earlier. It did not take long before the leader was threatened by one of his generals to start the war in an attempt to retake it. But a company from the Furbish army was deployed to secure the land. When the war ended months later, the soldiers seized the entire walled and entrenched area, secured a rail link to nearby plantations and settlements, and caused the collapse of a native empire. The natives who inhabited the village in what is now Kanton are now a minority in the largely Furbish inhabited city.

Borthwell wasted no time to assign the soldiers to their new posts in the city. Kraaijenzang was assigned to march in one section in the far end of the city. He will always carry his musket, loaded and bayonet fixed, to deal with any natives attempting to attack the city. Only when all posts were manned, the original garrison was called back to board the ship and be rotated out. The rest of the day was uneventful. Kraaijenzang watched the jungle carefully, ready to shoot any natives wanting to attack the city. But he did not find any. For now.

[Eire-Alba]

January 5th, 1845:
The Royal Armory of Dùn Èideann
6:00 P.M.

The royal taylor meets with King Revan to make a new royal cape. “Thanks for coming at such short notice. My old cape was getting holes from my dogs chewing on it while there toy rope was under it by accident,” said Revan while standing so that the taylor can get measurements. “It is no problem, your highness. I had nothing going on,” said the taylor. Revan asked “Business has been slow?” “Yes, your highness,” said the taylor. Revan the says, “I still miss the day when we were young and me practiced dueling with wooden swords. Do you miss those days?” The taylor answers, “Yes.” After a hour, the taylor gets read to leave and asked “What is your plan with the lords?” Revan says “I think I will allow them to do this, if they relinquish the vast majority of their control of the factories.” The taylor says, “Goodbye, my friend.” “Goodbye, old friend,” states Revan. Revan then calls for the armeror, “how many new units of rifles?” The armor states, “over 500 today for the royal guard.”

[New Gandor]

January 4th, 1845

Prime Minister Edward Thompson with Congressional approval writes two personal letter one to the Empire of Creeperopolis and one to the Castilliano Imperio. In the letter after a humble greeting to each monarch, it states that to improve relations with each other New Gandor will build a rail system stretching from New Gandor through Castillano Imperio to The Empire of Creeperopolis. The hope is that this this will improve relations, as well as each nations economies. The best part, New Gandor will pay for it all and provide all labour necessary. New Gandor may be the only known Republic in the world. But it wouldn't hurt to make some friends.

January 10th, 1845
The couriers with the special letters from Edward Thompson arrive in their respective countries.

Awaiting response from Creeperopolis and Castillano Imperio

[New Waldensia]

January 5th, 1845
Salder, Waldensia

Grand Prince Josiah Waldo stood on the rampart of the fort, observing the smoke wafting upwards from the Hussian encampment to the west. Snow covered the landscape like a thick blanket, as Old Man Winter had his firm grip on the Confederation of New Waldensia.

The Confederation was in the midst of its second civil war, with the Principalities of Hussia and Venalda fighting against those of Waldensia, Toulode, and Arnaud. Seven skirmishes and battles had taken place before the restrictions of winter had halted hostilities for the time being.

Ships were frozen in port for now, while troop movement was difficult to say the least. Most of the armies on both sides had taken up winter camp, scattered across the region.

Here and there desultory fighting would occur, but the scene was primarily what greeted Prince Waldo at Salder -- sentries exchanging fire every few days, and both sides waiting for the winter snows to begin to recede.

Spring would bring a renewed battle, the likes of which none of the five principalities of New Waldensia had seen since the birth of the Confederation in the 1500s.

[Furbish Islands]

Streets of Kanton
Kanton City-Province, Furby Island
Afternoon, 11-1-1845

It has been a week since Corporal Howard Kraaijenzang was deployed to Kanton. Now he marched near a small train yard, belonging to the Kanton Company, in the edge of the city slightly northwest of the barracks. The company secured rail links to plantations, and carried various goods both ways of the tracks. Kraaijenzang heard a train arriving, full of cargo from several plantations. It came to a full stop, then began being unloaded. Crates were taken out of train cars, then put on horse drawn carriages, which stood nearby. When full, they moved by the road to a docked ship the port, to be loaded onto the ship. The carriages then returned to the station, carrying cargo loaded from ships in the port. The cargo was then unloaded and loaded on to the train. The carriages were filled again with the train’s old cargo. This process repeated for a while, until all the original cargo from the train was replaced with new cargo from the port. Then the train departed, headed to far off plantations, or maybe another city. Every step of the process was perfected to be as efficient as possible. In both time and cost, Kraaijenzang observed.

All regions in Furby Island made slavery illegal, except the south. Kraaijenzang lived his life in the north, and never even left his home province, until recently being deployed in Kanton. There were many whites in the city, but all the labor intensive jobs were being done by slaves. Kraaijenzang was disgusted at the practice. The worst jobs were given to souls born into the wrong family. Their owners did not seem to understand the value of human life. Each man was expendable, to be bought and sold with money, and losing his life meant meant only a loss in Furbish dollars. His commanding officer, Major Frederick Borthwell, also seemed disgusted at the practice, as were the rest of the company. But even with those disagreements, they were there to protect the city from the natives. Slavery itself was very unpopular among the population outside the south in general, but very few people wanted to abolish it entirely. There was too much money to be lost. Sugar and cotton were still valuable and very profitable crops. Kraaijenzang too understood that slaves on plantations drove industry in the rest of the country, and the economy as a whole. But he wished to see a day when it was not a necessity for the economy to treat individuals like property and work for nothing.

Kraaijenzang made his rounds on the streets. Dirt roads. Hastily built residences housing young people looking for opportunity in the harsh tropical climate. Threats of natives that require soldiers marching along the streets. Kraaijenzang was surprised that people even chose this fate. He thought about it for a while, but it did not seem like a fair deal to him. So many risks for a possible reward, but what were the chances of it? He realized though, that the city would grow. Wars would cause the Kanton Company’s private army, the Furbish Army, Southern National Guard, and newly formed Kanton National Guard, all of which had units stationed in the city, and possibly unorganized civilian militias, to expand. Borthwell was the commander of all units in the city, including civilian militias, and can begin a campaign any time he wished. But he knew better than to start an unprovoked war. Kraaijenzang hoped it would begin in a few months, just has his company is rotated out of the city and replaced with a new one. But it is possible his company will be called back to deal with it.

Kraaijenzang’s hat suddenly flew off his head and landed in front of him, revealing his brown hair. While normally he would have picked it up and put it back on, but he noticed the arrow stuck behind it. It was shot by someone with a bow. Kraaijenzang turned around to see three native bowmen, who all just fired an arrow. He had no time to see what happened to the other two. The three each took out another arrow and began loading. Kraaijenzang raised his musket and fired at the center bowman. The native to his right dropped dead into the jungle. Kraaijenzang retreated behind a house and began reloading his musket. Dump some gunpowder into the front of the barrel. Put a musket ball inside. The process took time, and Kraaijenzang needed to do this as quick as possible. He heard more soldiers rushing to the scene, after hearing the first gunshot. Three groups gathered, one down the street near Kraaijenzang, and two near the trench on either side of it. Some shots were fired. Kraaijenzang came back out of his cover to see the three bowmen laying dead in front of the trench. Then half a dozen more appeared.

Kraaijenzang wasted no time and fired, hitting a native in the knee. He believed he saw seven, but quickly hid behind the house. Soldiers near him did the same, firing then jumping back to reload. The arrows kept coming. More soldiers were arriving to the battle. The Furbishmen continued firing, as the natives began falling back. Kraaijenzang loaded in the musket ball, then looked forward to see four natives covered in blood dragging themselves out of battle, one of which he shot in the knee. He fired, missing entirely this time. Next to him, a soldier was shot in the upper arm. Another soldier fired, then offered to take him to the hospital. Both soldiers took their guns and walked out of the battle. Behind Kraaijenzang, two more soldiers walked in. Kraaijenzang ignored them, reloading his rifle instead. He could not afford to lose reloading time. The two men fired both of their guns, shooting another native dead. Kraaijenzang noticed their lower sleeves were black, even though they had a blue coat. The black sleeves signified the soldiers were riflemen. Rifles have a longer range than muskets belonging to soldiers like Kraaijenzang, but reloading took a long time. It is possible that they will not even be able to shoot again this engagement.

Kraaijenzang was reloading his musket, then eleven more natives appeared. Five were bowmen, and six of them jumped down into the trench with spears and daggers ready to climb over. The soldiers opened fire on the bowmen. Kraaijenzang aimed for the trench, but missed. He looked at the other soldiers in his area, who all fired again. Kraaijenzang then looked at his bayonet. It was fixed to his rifle at the beginning of the day. He looked at the bayonets of the other soldiers as well. Firing at the natives inside the trench will be hard to not miss. But a bayonet charge may be feasible. He shouted to get the other soldiers’ attention, then pointed at his bayonet, then at the natives. The soldiers knew what he meant. The two riflemen did not look up. They were still busy stuffing musket balls into their rifles’ grooved barrels. Kraaijenzang and the rest of the soldiers looked towards the natives in the trenches, held their guns forward, and began running towards them.

Volleys continued coming from soldiers standing on either side of the street. They only targeted the bowmen, knowing the soldiers with running forward with bayonets will deal with the natives in the trench. When Kraaijenzang began his charge, and the soldiers ran closer, the natives knew they were not going to win this raid. The six in the trenches turned around and began climbing out in a desperate escape attempt. The Furbishmen kept running. One was shot in the lower leg, but he fought through the pain, gathering the strength to run forward with an arrow in his boot. Two bowmen tried reaching out to help the struggling natives escape the trenches. They became the primary targets. From the back, the two riflemen fired again. One hit a bowman, who fell backwards into the jungle. The other hit one of the natives who almost left the trench, killing him as well. Kraaijenzang kept running with his bayonet forward, next to a few other soldiers, with bayonets aimed at natives still struggling to escape. The soldiers were about to run into the street intersection. The soldiers held fire, to not risk injuring the ones charging with bayonets. Another soldier was shot in the knee and fell beside the charging group.

Kraaijenzang locked his eyes on the last fleeing native. He was almost at the trench. The bayonet had momentum going from the run. All but one native escaped the trenches already, and the last was climbing up with help of one bowman. Kraaijenzang was now at the edge of the street. He thrust his musket forward, straight into the fleeing native’s back. He attempted to mess with the republic, capture a city, or cause damage. But now he lay near its border, impaled by a professional soldier. One less native to deal with in the inevitable assault in Kanton, Kraaijenzang thought. He removed the now blood soaked bayonet and began thrusting it at the two bowmen, who now had fear in their eyes. They grabbed the corpse of their fallen friend, and ran off into the jungle. Kraaijenzang stepped back, and the soldiers on either side of him fired their last volley into the jungle. The raid was over, and the natives were gone.

The soldiers estimated half a dozen to a dozen natives were dead from the engagement, of which Kraaijenzang killed two. One was shot as the raid began, the other was impaled by a bayonet at the end of the battle. Several more were wounded after the engagement. The soldiers stood in the spot for a few minutes, making sure the natives were gone completely. The two wounded men were walked back to a hospital. Their, and the other soldier’s wounds were not serious. The soldiers should be in fighting shape again in a few days. Kraaijenzang walked back to pick up his hat and remove the arrow from it. The blue cap laid on the street in the same spot as it fell after being shot. A stone tipped wooden arrow stuck out of it. Kraaijenzang picked up his hat and carefully removed the arrow. The wooden shaft of the arrow looked like the same type of wood as the trees ahead. The stone arrow head was sharp. It was possibly made from some rock found on the ground. On the other end were colorful feathers, possibly taken from dead birds. Kraaijenzang kept the arrow with him, as a reminder of his first engagement.

That evening, Major Borthwell informed that this was the largest attack on the city since the end of the Kanton Uprising of 1842, by all measures. The second largest happened just a week and a half earlier, before the new garrison was rotated in. Kraaijenzang realized the inevitable war may happen sooner than he initially thought.

[Gagium]

January 9, 1945
Holston Post Road
The 2nd Company of the 4th Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment arrives in the town of Yelno, Gallyson, about 35 miles west of Holston. The town of 800 people are happy to hold the Company until the next day to continue their trip to Fort Monger. Temperatures reach a high of 26 degrees from previous days before falling back to 4 degrees the next morning.

Captain Joel Cobb tiredly leads the two columns of cavalry and wagons onwards through the snow the morning of the 10th as the sun continues its ascent into the skies. This was his third time making the journey from Holston to Fort Monger, and he felt rather familiar with the path by now. His Company Aide-de-camp, Lieutenant First Class Jaqui Turner (A former infantry sergeant birthed from the white Ensign Jefferson Turner and the half-native Halina Turner), trodded besides him as he took a swig of his canteen. Captain Joel turned to his Aide-de-camp and asked, "What's the estimate to the nearest town, Lieutenant?"

Jaqui smiled at the Captain and exhaled. "Joel, you and I both know that Oak's Gap is still two dozen or so miles away. We'll be lucky to reach it in half a week."

Captain Joel looked forward, his black stallion trudging through the snow. "Of course, Lieutenant. You'd be surprised at how many people have taken to the taming of the wilderness this present age." The Captain could say more about the natives, but understanding his Lieutenant's lineage, he decided to save it for when camp as set up that night.

January 10, 1945
City of Nestord, Gausil Parish
Nestord was the largest city in the parish of Gausil, and one of the busiest ports in the nation. It serviced trade between Gagium, New Waldensia, and the other civilized nations of the world in the summer; In the winter, however, the port was shut off due to the frigid water of the seas freezing over.

However, that didn't stop the University of Nestord, the third largest in the nation. At the moment, several entrepreneurs and bright minds alike met at the university to discuss the railroad. The railroad had proven its practicality and use in New Gandor and the Furbish Islands, as well as in the neighboring New Waldensia. At the expense of coal, which the nation had plenty of, metal-clad trains could carry both cargo and passengers across the frigid expanses of Gagium comfortably and without risk of the elements.

It was agreed on by the entrepreneurs and the inventors behind the conference that an effective rail network to deliver goods between the spaced-out cities of Gagium that maintenance of any rail network would be required to prevent snowstorms from neutering the network, and a morse telegraph network would also be required for the railway for coordination. Telegraphs themselves had also been proven to work and were developed in numerous different nations, and the University of Stonecan in Holston had set up a 2-mile long telegraph line from Palace Square to Carniel Square Harbor along the Johns River.

[New Waldensia]

January 12th, 1845
Jansville, Hussia

Prince Jacques Hussi V read over the report from the front lines. Harsh mountain blizzards had halted any forward progress in the central front, or anywhere else for that matter. The winter on the eastern side of the Gelida Mountains had been especially harsh this year. Most of the action over the past few weeks had been relegated to sentry fire and the occasional skirmish by foraging parties.

Spies in Arnaud and Toulose were keeping an eye on enemy winter camps, and occasional troop movements in Waldensia.

Ice had frozen all warships in port, but also required closer watch on the shores to avoid any incursions across the frozen bay from Toulodian forces. Militia had been activated to man some of the sea-ports, as most of the regular army was in the field.

Preparations were in progress for the spring thaw, with munitions being stored and warehouses built in forward positions.

For now, things were relatively quiet. Prince Hussi kicked back in his chair, put his arms behind his head and propped his boots on the desk. He pulled his pipe out and exhaled smoke. All that could be done for now was prepare and wait.

[Creeperopolis]

January 10, 1845:
Creeperian Imperial Palace
San Salvador, San Salvador, HTE Creeperopolis

General Manuel Cabañeras, son of the late Miguel Cabañeras, hands Adolfo III, Emperor of Creeperopolis and the Creeperans, a letter just after dinner in the Imperial Palace. The letter is from Prime Minister Edward Thompson of the Greater Republic of New Gandor, which is just south of the Gandorian Sea.

The letter explains the Gandorian plan of the construction of a railroad beginning in New Union, passing through Castilliano, and terminating in Salvador (not to be confused with San Salvador). The letter also goes in depth about improving relations between Creeperopolis and New Gandor.

The Emperor writes a letter back to the Prime Minister accepting the offer of the railroad and asks where the planned railroad's exact route will be. He handed the letter he wrote to a servant, who handed it over to a diplomat to deliver the letter to New Gandor. The letter should arrive in about a week.

Meanwhile, Adolfo III places the letter he received on his desk and looks over a military report from Senvek reporting a third occasion of Senvekian nationalistic terrorism this year where 15 Creeperian soldiers and 23 Creeperian citizens were gunned down in Port Senvek by a group of 11 men. The men were members of the Coalición de Restauración Senvekiana (Senvekian Restoration Coalition), or CRS for short. The revolutionary group has been responsible for terrorist attacks in Senvar and Senvek (within Creeperopolis) ever since the Kingdom of Senvar-Senvek was annexed by Creeperopolis in 1840. The attacks are mainly against Creeperian political and military officials with the goal of independence from Creeperopolis.

The 10 of the 11 men were captured and are being detained in a prison in the Senvekian countryside. The man who wasn't arrested was killed in action by a soldier reacting to the attack. The soldier was Maximiliano Cortéz, a corporal in the Imperial Army. Adolfo III decided to award the solder the Order of the Cross of San Romero, one of the highest Creeperian military awards. He will also promote him to Sergeant for his service to the HTE of Creeperopolis.

January 12, 1845
San Salvador, San Salvador, HTE Creepeorpolis

The Emperor is informed on the current status of the ongoing Second Waldensian Civil War. From the Creeperian intelligence, it seems that the Hussians will be defeated by the Waldensians within the next couple of months. Adolfo III offers his prayers and moral support to Grand Prince Josiah Waldo that he may come out victorious in the war. Gregory XVI, King of the (Second) State of the Church and Pope of the Catholic Church, also offers his prayers and moral support for the Waldensians in the war.

January 13, 1845
Basilica of Christ the King
(Second) State of the Church, HTE Creeperopolis

The Emperor makes his first visit to the Papal State this year and speaks with the Pope on several matters.

January 14, 1845
Undisclosed location, Senvek, HTE Creeperopolis

At 5am, 18 men who are members of the CRS begin to plot an assassination on Adolfo III. The plan is scheduled to be executed by the end of the month in San Salvador or in the State of the Church.

[New Waldensia]

January 19th, 1845
Far southern Toulode, CONW

Snow swirled as the Hussian troops marched. Hussian Army command had decided to attempt a winter campaign against the main Toulodian force in southern Toulode. The temperatures had been hovering in the single digits or lower since early December, and advance was difficult given the snow cover; however, the army continued its approach steadily.

The Hussian force was made up of the 5th Foot Brigade (1,729 effectives, with 12 field guns and 122 artillerymen fit for service) and the 1st Cavalry Brigade (1,023 effectives + 8 horse artillery guns and 69 artillerymen fit for service). Also attached was the 2nd Light-Foot Regiment from the 4th Foot Brigade (581 fit for battle and 41 artillerymen with 4 field guns) and the 11th Foot Regiment from the 4th Foot Brigade (563 effectives, 40 artillerymen and 4 field guns)

The Hussian cavalry screened the advance, which was led by the light infantry, with the 5th FBrig following and the 11th FReg making up the rear. They marched for two days, aiming for Voldter's Crossroads, an important regional junction.

January 21st, 1845
Nieschten, Toulode, CONW

Scouts rode into the army camp near the seaside village of Nieschten, with fresh news of Hussian troop movements. Brigadier General Feldrik Agnar received the report and ordered the alarm to be sounded. Within the hour, the entire Toulodian detachment was striking camp and preparing to move out. Riders were sent to alert the closest Arnaudian troops, about 100 miles to the east, as well as to the Toulodian capital to the northwest.

The Toulodian deployment was comprised of the 2nd Foot Brigade (1,803 effectives plus 119 artillerymen with 12 field guns), the 1st Light-Foot Regiment (649 effectives plus 41 artillerymen with 4 field guns), and the 1st Cavalry Regiment (450 effectives plus 34 artillerymen and 4 horse artillery guns).

The 1st CReg rushed ahead to secure Voldter's Crossroads, hopefully before any Hussian troops could arrive. The infantry began a force-march, while local militias were called out and being armed for possible deployment.

January 22nd, 1845
7:45am
Voldter's Crossroads, Toulode, CONW

The Toulodian 1st Cavalry Regiment rode into Voldter's Crossroads under a clear, cold sky. A blacksmith's shop, tavern, small inn, and a handful of other buildings and homes comprised the scene, with the Bondeport Road intersecting from the southwest and the Jansville Pike continuing its northwest-to-southeast direction.

The Company A immediately set up as sentries two miles in advance of the village, and the Companies C and D were detached to begin making defensive works. The Company B took position as an advance force, between the sentry line and the village.

2:15pm

A gunshot was heard, a signal from the sentry line that enemy soldiers had been sighted. Work on the defensive line ceased as troopers mounted up and awaited orders. The horse artillery had been set up on a slight knoll adjacent to the Jansville Pike south of the crossroads. The position would allow for the recoil of the guns to roll them out of the line of fire for reloading.

The Company C stayed in the village at the defensive works, dismounted as dragoons. The B and D Companies rode forward a mile, where they could observe the enemy advance.

Elements of the Hussian 1st Cavalry Brigade had approached the sentry line, and briefly exchanged fire before withdrawing. Scouts reported that the main Hussian force was coming up the Pike, with lead units about seven miles from the sentry line

Word was sent back to Brig. Gen. Agnar, with urgent requests for swift movement of the infantry.

[New Gandor]

January 19th, 1845

New Union, the Prime Minister's office


A letter arrives from a diplomat containing Creeperopolis' agreement in improving relations and the multinational railroad. Eager to have the project started Prime Minister Edward Thompson immediately starts writing letters to the major railroading companies in New Gandor.

In the letter he states that a map will need to be drawn and the best concept will be sent off to Creeperopolis. Only one company will get the opportunity to make the line, however an enormous sum of money will be given by the government to complete this tasks.

Thompson hopes for an answer by 2 weeks.

January 29th, 1845

New Union, Parliament

The companies finished early. Prime Minister Edward Thompson and Parliment are eager to hear from the Engineers from 3 companies.

1st up is the New Union Rail Association (NURA), they present a plan running through the heart of each country, Castillano and Creeperopolis. "It might cost more but the revenue would be immense" said the engineer.

2nd is the New Gandorian International (NGI). Their engineer proposes a route close to the sea, hitting only major areas along the way. Key areas include
Church of the state, Aldofosburg, and San Salvador. This route would also connect with existing routes in New Gandor to boost trade and save the hassle of building more lines than need be.

3rd is New Union Olmstead (NUO) the proposed a route with a bridge going around the unclaimed land by Creeperopolis. The engineer looked at the room and saw the look of fear on all the representatives faces. "This would avoid having to guard the workers from the possibility of tribes attacking them". All Representatives thought that was a good point, however agreed it was too expensive.

2 hours later

Parliment decided unanimously on option 2 and decided to hire NGI to do the project named "The Creepo - Gandorian railway". The engineers of the NGI hand the concept to Prime Minister Edward Thompson. The concept outlines all routes and destinations. He then gives it to the diplomat and wishes him a safe journey back to Creeperopolis. He will arrive in about a week.

Thompson also thinks about what the NUO engineer had said. The workers will need to be protected. He will ask for 100 volunteers from the New Gandorian military to accompany the workers all the way to Salvador.

[Furbish Islands]

Kanton Barracks
Kanton City-Province, Furby Island
Morning, 12-1-1845

Major Frederick Borthwell stood at the head of a table with a map of Kanton stretched over it. It outlined the entire city, as well as surrounding areas. Just before Borthwell lay the peninsula, first given to the Kanton Company three years ago, which now houses the barracks. Of the four armies in Kanton, two were entirely housed in the peninsula, and so is the headquarters of the third. Past the peninsula, the rest of the bay stretched across the table. The map showed simply the city and surrounding areas, without decorations. It contained simple lines for the coastline, the streets and buildings of the city, the border, and the railroad leading out of the city. Waves were drawn for the sea, but the jungle is empty. No Furbishman has gone into that jungle. But that may very well may soon change. For now it was still an empty space on the map. Space soon to be filled by soldiers, then Furbish settlers. Whenever the natives choose to attack the city, they will be taken over.

Borthwell looked at a piece of paper he was holding. It had a record of every raid since the end of the Kanton Uprising of 1842. Judging by their frequency, numbers, and casualties on both sides it was clear to Borthwell that a war was mere days away. He hoped the others in this room would realize this too. To the right of Borthwell stood his second in command, Captain Micheal Willoby. Both men wore dark blue coats and black trousers, with shoulder boards and gold stripes on the lower sleeve identifying them as officers and showing their ranks. On the left side of the table, next to the water on the map, stood officers from the Kanton Company’s army. The commander sat in the middle, flanked by two officers to his right and three to his left. They all wore green coats and black trousers. The green of the coats of the Kanton Company’s army was brighter than the green uniforms worn by Furbish light infantry. The commander definitely fought for the Furbish army, but since left, for possibly a more lucrative deal from the Kanton Company. His army was also the largest of the four stationed in the city.

On the right side of the table, next to Willoby, were three officers from the Southern National Guard. The region dispatched the unit three years ago when a war was becoming imminent, at the same time as the Furbish army. Borthwell recognized the leader, Major Solomon Cropper, from the war. Both men fought alongside each other, and will now fight together again. The three men from the national guard wore the same uniforms as Borthwell and Willoby, but the upper sleeves were crimson, to differentiate them from national forces. On the left at the far end stood two officers from the recently established Kanton National Guard. They wore the same uniforms as Cropper and his officers, but with an additional bright green stripe. Borthwell thought the two officers were among the few with actual uniforms, and they were all probably selected from the officer corps to lead a new unit in a small city to help fend off against native attacks. The rest were just civilians joining in because there is little job opportunity in the city currently.

“Gentlemen”, Borthwell began, “As you probably know, I have gathered you all here because of the most recent raid on the city. A war against the natives is imminent at this point. Looking at the trend, is only about two weeks away.” The last sentence caused a few blank stares. “What do you mean, two weeks?” asked one of the Kanton Company officers. Borthwell holds up a paper with records of the past raids since a war in 1842 ended. “Look at the list of raids. Increasing. By this trend, the next raid will begin in a few days, and a few more days later another raid will happen, and in a few more one will be enough to be considered an attack and not just a raid.” He passes the paper to the rest of the officers, which includes predictions for the next two raids, and a very accurate one of the raid from a day earlier. The officers did not respond before Borthwell continued. “As you can see, there will be a war soon. I want all soldiers to be prepared for war and ready to respond at a moment’s notice. Understood?”

Most of the other officers in the room were not as ready as Borthwell for a war. They all looked at each other, and at the major. Waiting for someone to speak up, to say the next raid will break the trend Borthwell saw. But there is no point in arguing with him. He is the commander in chief of all forces in the city, including the national guard, militias, and the Kanton Company’s army. After a long silence, a Kanton Company army officer asked his commander, “Sir, will they attack the railroad?”. The commander replied “I doubt that. They only want the bay back. I’m sure they will attack until they reach the Stone Hall and then force us to surrender in there before killing us inside.” Borthwell looked at the two men, who looked back at him. He then scanned the entire table, and said “So no questions?” No one responded. “We meet again after the next raid. I want all soldiers ready by then. Dismissed.” The officers all walked out of the room, knowing exactly how to inform their soldiers about the situation. A new raid could come at any time, possibly at the day Borthwell predicted, or probably earlier. Either war, all soldiers will be prepared for war.

[Eire-Alba]

January 7, 1845:
Letter from King Revan MacCarthy I:
To all Clans. We shall come back together on the 15th of January due to the lack of food in the palace.

The Royal Palace:
The King meets with the chefs and cooks of the royal palace. Revan says, "Cooks, chefs... the clan leaders and I shall have a large feast on the 15th of this month. I think we should go with chicken, potatoes, bread, and water. Please go get the food and prepare to make the food for that day." The chefs and cooks went to get the food ready.



January 15, 1845:
The Royal Palace:
The Clan Leaders meets with the King. Revan first makes a announcement, "Before we debate the constitution, I am assigning local historian and writer, William Hardin, to write a complete history of the nation's history." Everyone applauds. The king, who is currently 23 years old, has been putting that off for 6 years. After 7 hours, the constitution is signed.
(Link to the Constitution: https://www.nationstates.net/nation=eire-alba/detail=factbook/id=1187397)

[New Waldensia]

January 22nd, 1845
Voldter's Crossroads, Toulode, CoNW
4:45pm
As the sun started to sink below the horizon, the 1st Toulodian Light-Foot Regiment marched into Voldter's Crossroads. They took up positions on the ridge south of the crossroads, which had a low stonewall supplemented by logs and dirt that stretched for a few hundred yards at the crest of the slope. Three companies of the 1st Cavalry Regiment took up a skirmish/sentry line about a mile in advance, with one company stationed in reserve with the horse artillery between the two lines.

With darkness settling in, messages came in that one of the 2nd Foot Brigade regiments would press on and arrive during the late evening, while the remaining two regiments would encamp and arrive in the morning. Two companies of militia positioned on the outskirts of the crossroads hamlet.

5:30pm
Marching by torchlight, the 2nd Hussian Light-Foot Regiment and 3rd Regiment of the 5th Foot Brigade arrived at the camp of the 1st Cavalry Brigade, some two miles from Voldter's Crossroads. The remaining three regiments would arrive sometime in the morning.

8pm

The Toulodian 6th Foot Regiment and the Hussian 2nd Foot Regiment both were pressing on in the dark, within a mile of their respective destinations. Cavalry and scouts from both sides were feeling out the other positions, determining where the front lines of each army were. Gunfire was exchanged at one point, and two squads of cavalry got into a brief saber-fight before withdrawing with nothing more than minor wounds.

[New Waldensia]

January 23rd, 1845
Voldter's Crossroads, Toulode, CoNW
8:15am

With another two hours before the winter sun would begin to rise, the Toulodian troops made preparations for the coming battle. Foot soldiers were working at buttressing the defensive works, while officers were huddled together, going over the battle plans. Ammunition was distributed among the soldiers, 50 rounds per man. The 6th Foot Regiment had arrived in the late evening, and taken up a position on the right flank of the light-infantry. The 2nd and 3rd Foot Regiments were still several hours away, trudging through the snow on their way to Voldter's Crossroads.

10:00am

The Hussian cavalry began a general movement toward the Toulodian cavalry. The Toulodian companies on the left flank slowly withdrew before their more numerous foe. There was some stirring in the Hussian camp, indicating that their infantry was preparing for a dawn advance.

Dawn, 10:30am

As light began to break on the horizon, cavalry clashed on the Toulodian right flank. As the 160-strong 1st Hussian Cavalry Regiment, B Company, rolled forward in the same movement as the rest of the Hussian cavalry, B Company of the 1st Toulodian Cavalry Regiment (115-strong) launched a sudden, headlong charge. As the Toulodians neared, the Hussians hastily discharged their pistols and drew sabers as they urged their steeds forward. The two lines converged in a clash of steel and horseflesh, riders being dismounted, and horses and men being felled by gunfire or sabers.

The Toulodian company disengaged from the fight and trotted off a short distance in recovery. The Hussian horsemen rallied and galloped forward in a counter-charge. As they neared to within 20 yards, they were met with a violent volley of carbine fire, which halted the advance in its tracks. Licking their wounds, the Hussian cavalry withdrew several hundred yards, picking up their wounded on their way back.

[Creeperopolis]

January 19, 1845
Port Senvek, Senvek, HTE Creepeorpolis

At 8:32am, a patrolling soldier spots a suspicious man and asks to speak with him. He interrogates him on what he is up to and where he is going. The soldier spots a piece of paper in the man's pocket and asks to view it. The man refuses, but when the soldier demands he hands it over, he pulls out a revolver and shoots the soldier pointblank. The man attempts to run away but is incapacitated by fellow soldiers who heard the gunshots.

The man is detained and sent to a hospital. The soldiers read the paper and realize it is a plot to assassinate the Emperor which was intended to be handed off to a trained gunman to kill Adolfo III. Immediately the city is put on high alert and a curfew is instated.

January 21, 1845
Basilica of Christ the King
(Second) State of the Church, HTE Creeperopolis

The Emperor is about to being a meeting with the Pope but is informed of the discovered plot to assassinate him. He puts off the meeting until the next day to deal with the assassination plot.

Later that day, Adolfo III ordered an investigation to uncover everyone involved with the plot and have them executed. He also declared the curfew will remain in place until April.

January 24, 1845
Creeperian Imperial Palace
San Salvador, San Salvador, HTE Creeperopolis

Emperor Adolfo III was just finishing with dinner when Manuel Cabañeras entered the dinning hall and handed the Emperor a letter from the Gandorian Prime Minister. The letter was regarding the Gando-Creeperian Railroad (which is what it is referred to as in Creeperopolis). The letter read how the railroad would be built by only one company.

The Emperor gets up from the table and goes to his office. He writes a letter to the Prime Minister offering instead that a Creeperian railroad company should build the tracks within Creeperopolis and a Gandorian railroad company should build the tracks within New Gandor and Castilliano, with assistance from either side here and there. He also states he wishes to hold a state visit of New Gandor either in February or March to further discuss the railroad's construction.

He gives the letter to a soldier to deliver the message to the Prime Minister of New Gandor. The letter should arrive around January 31.

[Gagium]

January 14 1845
Holston Post Road
The 2nd Company of the 4th Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment arrives in the small village of Fallshireton-At-Port approximately 81 miles west of Holston, freezing and battered by an intensive snowstorm that had been lasted for the past 3 days and has claimed 4 of the companies lives.

Captain Cobb wearily looks at Lieutenant First Class Jaqui Turner and yawns. They are in the Port Inn sitting by the fireplace along with other officers and NCOs of the company. Normally, they would be drinking as much as possible from the tavern (One Joel Cobb was familiar with) and singing songs of the Gagiumish cavalry. However, as the snow battered the windows and walls of the Inn, he was too weary to say a word as his officers quietly mused about their families back in Houston.

On the morning of the 15th, the 2nd Company would find the town snowed in. It took a day for the cavalrymen to regroup themselves and their supplies, and they set out for the Shinlow river on the 16th.

January 20, 1845
Brooks river, end of the Holston Post Road
Captain Joel Cobb led his two columns of calvary and wagons into the town of Westbank-At-Arms at around 2:00 PM local time, alongside the Brooks river. The 2nd Company took up residence in the sleepy town of 1,900 as the Captain ordered a squad to measure the ice thickness of the Shinlow river to see if it would hold up his caravan.

January 27, 1845
Palace of Three Thrones
The Palace of Three Thrones in Holston is a massive stone hall on the northern side of Holston, approximately a mile and a half from the 1st brigade army garrison. The five-story tall castle featured neat rows of windows around the old Church of Holston, dating from several hundred years prior to the Palaces’ expansion.

The Palace was named during the War of Clans in 1673, during which the houses of Gaunle (Based in present-day Gallyson), Delspor, and Bethfriar all claimed ownership over the city of Holston, and thus reign over the Kingdom of Gagium. In the extent of the conflict, a swordsman of each hours dueled in the Hall of the Palace, leading to the deaths of all three of them and no-one being claimed as victorious.

In the Palace’s great stone hall, converted from the Chuch’s original building, resided two Thrones of gold and iron, lit by a series of lanterns hanging from the Halls’ pillars. On the larger or the Thrones sat King Quinn Price, both Head of State and Head of Government in the Kingdom of Gagium. He was currently reading a pen-written summary of a recent debate in the Hall of Carniel, where Gagium’s Parliament was based. The matter at hand was of a boundary dispute between the parishes of Redforge and Pinerun, during which Redforge parliamentary members claimed that a land encompassing several iron mines in Pinerun was rightfully theirs. The session adjourned with bitter arguments towards the two sides, and no solution being reached.

King Quinn stared at the summary before handing it to his advisor. He looked towards his wife, sitting on the smaller throne next to him, and quietly murmured that he was retreating to his study for some reading. He pushed himself off his throne and walked out of the Hall, past the portraits of the Kingdom’s valiant kings and knights of the past centuries. He was an aging man, around 58 years old, and yet he still attempted to remain as active as possible within his massive palace.

[New Waldensia]

January 23rd, 1845
Voldter's Crossroads, Toulode, CoNW
11:30am

The Hussian infantry was forming up about a mile in front of the Toulodian lines, preparing for a general assault on their position. Outside of artillery range, the 2nd Light-Infantry Regiment took the right flank, the 2nd Foot Regiment the left flank, with the 3rd Foot Regiment in support. The cavalry brigade stationed three companies on the outer flanks, with another three companies held toward the center for a follow-up attack after the infantry assault. The 7th Foot Regiment had just arrived, and was taking a breather in the camp. The 11th Foot Regiment was not far behind, bringing up the rear of the Hussian force.

On the Toulodian side, the 2nd Foot Regiment was about to arrive, with the 3rd Foot Regiment still a few hours march away. Like the Hussians, the cavalry held the flanks, with one company in reserve behind the infantry. Artillery was stationed in advance of the Toulodian line, prepared to shell the advancing infantry whenever they decided to step off and attack.

11:50am

Drums rattling, the Hussian infantry stepped forward and began the general assault. At 1,500 yards, they began to come under artillery fire from the Toulodian 6-pounder and 12-pounder field guns, mainly solid shot and spherical case shot. The Hussian artillery rolled forward for some long-range counter-battery fire, shooting over the heads of their advancing infantry.

In conjunction with the infantry advance, two companies of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment moved forward to engage the Toulodian horsemen on the eastern flank.

As the infantry assault neared the 500 yard range, the Hussian artillery fire ceased, while the Toulodians began preparing to begin canister fire. Long-range sharpshooters began a slow fire at the Hussian infantry, dropping a few enemy soldiers here and there.

[New Gandor]

January 31st, 1845
New Union, president's office

Prime Minister Edward Thompson takes a sip of coffee while running through the statistics and budget of the NGC Railroad sighing he sees that the government will owe a lot of money to NGI. It would be worth it in the long run. Suddenly there was a knock on the door

"Come in" he says.
It was Secretary of International Affairs Jacob Carter. He is holding a letter with the seal of Creeperopolis. Thompson jumps out of his seat and grabs the letter. He reads it and is relieved. He notes that Creeperopolis would be willing to use a company and meet halfway in Castillano Imperio. He also sees that Adolfo would like to meet and discuss more on the railroad. He feverishly writes a letter in response.

It states that he would be more that New Gandor would be delighted to make this an International project. He asked that Adolfo meet on February 22nd to discuss the railroad and bring the name of the company that would do it. As an even greater show of friendship between the two leaders he also sends Adolfo his personal calvary sword. In the letter he states that he would like for this alliance to last and many good things to come.

The letter will arrive February 6th

He is eager to see Adolfo on the 22nd

[Furbish Islands]

North side of Kanton
Kanton City-Province, Furby Island
Morning, 16-1-1845

Lance Corporal Douglas Keiler’s crimson upper sleeves distinguished him from the other two men marching on his right, wearing only the standard dark blue Furbish infantry coat and black trousers. Keiler joined his region’s national guard while working his job in his small hometown. But soon he was sent off to Kanton, to replace the current garrison and prepare for an inevitable war against the natives. After spending months in the city, he was eager to leave, and hoped another war would not break out while he was there. But here he was, marching beside two active duty soldiers from the army, in a city now fully mobilized for a war. Keiler and the other two soldiers marched down the streets of Kanton, near the trenches. These trenches were unmanned for a while, and it started to show. The dirt sides and ground were not indistinguishable from the jungle that lay ahead. Past the line was a wall of trees, branches, leaves, and vines. Keiler pitied the poor souls who have to fight in that. He was now that poor soul.

A family living in the city was standing before the three soldiers, talking about whether the residence they chose was too close to the trenches, after the last raid a few days ago. The soldiers all came to a stop. The children, out of curiosity looked at the soldiers. Dark colored uniforms. Muskets, which were fully loaded. Bayonets fixed to the muskets. Sabers hanging off the left sides of the soldiers. The two parents then looked at the soldiers. The father said that they should discuss this elsewhere and the family moved away. The soldiers continued marching as if the family did not exist. They had other matters to deal with at the moment. Mainly, making sure that family and other civilians would not be attacked should a raid begin. Keiler thought about those children, and their innocence. They were probably curious or impressed at the soldiers. Not realizing why the soldiers were there, or what the shiny sticks they were holding did. But they might witness a fierce battle from the place where they were standing.

The soldiers were in front of a building, just in between two streets. In the jungle before them, Keiler first saw vines swinging away. Then dark shadows appearing behind them. It was no time before around two dozen natives materialized out of the shadows. They all stepped forward, carrying bows and spears. An entire line of dark skinned people now stood before the trenches, ready to jump down. This happened in the span of a single step. It is not the longest step Keiler took, but it felt like it. He was still marching with the other soldiers, unaware of what to do. A large group of natives ready to attack. But only around eight carried bows. The rest had spears. And as Keiler took another step, they did too. But they did into the trench. The single barrier between the jungle and city, now was breached because no soldier was inside to protect it and the city. Keiler took another step. At this time, the natives began climbing. By Keiler’s fourth step, he was able to recollect his thoughts and decide what to do.

The other two soldiers thought the same. All three men opened fire on the archers. The sound of the muskets, often compared to thunder, shook the small street. The soldiers were used to the sound, while the natives were probably not. The musket balls quickly soared through the air, propelled by the explosion of gunpowder. They hit the targets in what seemed like an instant. The three soldiers aimed for the same archer, the one closest to them. One of the balls hit the archer in the side of the head. The second shot the same archer in the arm, and the third missed him entirely, hitting a tree behind him. None of the soldiers knew where their shots were, or which one of theirs made the kill. The shots killed the archer, who fell away from the soldiers and to his fellow natives. His dead body landed on an adjacent archer, hitting his left arm. The force caused him to let go of his bow too early. The arrow spent only a few seconds in the air, before landing on the street beside the trench.

The sound of the first volley fired by the three soldiers alerted other soldiers in the area about an attack in the area. The sound of boots hitting the cobblestone road was pleasing to Keiler, for now more allies were at the scene. Familiar blue coated soldiers rushed in, along with the green coated Kanton Company army, and even a few militiamen from the Kanton National Guard. The latter group did not even have their own uniforms, instead wearing various civilian attire. While they did not look like it, by law they must be trained to the same standards as the Furbish regulars. They and the other uniformed soldiers soldiers increased the Furbish numbers to fifteen. The natives still outnumbered them, but it was an improvement over the initial three. And with the technology advantage, the Furbish now had the upper hand. Keiler and the two soldiers beside him all stepped aside and reloaded they muskets. They allowed other soldiers to go ahead, and fire their volleys.

Each soldier pulled his trigger, which caused an explosion in his musket. The sounds of the explosions were scaring off civilians from nearby areas, who knew something bad was happening in the area. But with each shot, a musket ball flew forward at a high speed. Native archers shot back, but the half dozen archers could not match the firepower of the fifteen soldiers, even if reloading bows was faster than reloading muskets. While Keiler was still reloading, one archer was shot in the chest, another in his torso. Several more natives in the trench were shot, but firepower was focused on the archers. Pools of blood spewed from the fallen, but the rest fought on. They were fighting to reclaim their homeland from invaders, some of which did not want to be in the city. The natives also had slightly larger numbers. The ones in the trench continued climbing. Surely these soldiers were not armed with any effective melee weapons, and were too focused on the archers to care. The archers were providing good cover, as planned.

Keiler got another shot at another archer, near the same time as the two soldiers he marched beside half a minute earlier before the battle. It was not long ago when Keiler felt that nothing will happen to him. Less than half a minute. But that half a minute felt like years ago. He was now defending himself and the city against an attack. Keiler’s musket fired, and the recoil pushed back at him. When he looked, he saw the archers all in pools of blood, either laying lifeless on the ground or with a visible wound and a musket ball lodged somewhere inside their bodies. But then he looked at the trenches, and realized some natives almost climbed up. One and a half dozen of them, ready to charge at the blue uniformed invaders. Keiler was not going to load his musket again. Attached to it was a bayonet. A sharp metal knife at the end, useful in close quarters combat. But by his side was a saber, a weapon more suited to what Keiler was about to face. He had no time to think, but he knew which weapon was better to use.

Keiler sheathed the bayonet and put his musket on his back. He then took out his saber and charged towards the natives in the trench. Some soldiers decided to follow his lead, while other continued firing. It was probably not a good idea to shoot because of how inaccurate muskets are, but there was still the threat of the archers. Keiler had some time to see the carnage of the current battlefield as he charged. The archers were mostly gone, all shot by the Furbish soldiers. Some natives lay in in the trench, others in the jungle. Two Furbishmen were also wounded from the current fight, being shot by arrows. But unlike the last raid, none of them lost their hats in the fight. Keiler kept running towards the natives in the trench, many of whom look to be almost out. Some saw the charging soldiers, and took out spears. Their wood and stone weapons were no match for the Furbish sabers, made out of the finest steal found in the country.

Keiler reached the trench, swung his sword, hitting a native who climbed out. The native fell back after the force of the impact, with blood spewing out of his wound. Keiler had no time to look at the dead native, and swung his sword at the next. More soldiers joined in, swinging sabers at the oncoming natives, who now were almost out of the trench. The natives were now hopelessly outnumbered and had a large disadvantage. The surviving archers ordered them to go back to the trench and into the jungle. The natives by this point had no choice but to retreat. Seeing the slashing of sabers on all sides except the back, and the large trench on the back. Two Furbishmen were stabbed by spears during the fight, and Keiler knew it would give him a less chance of being wounded if he let them retreat. But every native killed in this battle was one less to fight when the war Borthwell predicted will happen. He unsheathed his sword when the last natives jumped into the trenches and retreated from the other side. They were gone for good.

Keiler marched back to the other two soldiers he marched with before the skirmish. All soldiers in the area loaded their guns, and stood on guard near the area while the four lightly wounded Furbishmen were walked back to the hospital. Unlike previous raids, bodies of natives now lay in the streets, and in the trench. No one knew what to do with them. The soldiers picked the ones off the streets, and tossed the bloody bodies past the jungle. They did the same to the bodies in the trench. Keiler was unsure whether the bodies would be picked up, or lay there until the next group of Furbish soldiers invade past these trenches and deal with them. For now, no Furbishman will walk past the trenches. Keiler and the other two soldiers began marching away from the scene, back along their path in the north end of the city.

[Creeperopolis]

https://www.nationstates.net/nation=cre ... id=1193239

this took way too long lol

[Vens Verbum]

January 1st, 1845
Vensian Capital of Schowbern
Approximately 5:00 PM
It is the end of new day and only the beginning of a new year as the sun sets of the Vensian Capital of Schowbern. Whilst ones typical happenings on any given new year day might be filled with joy, celebrating, and other merry festivals such things cannot be said about the Schowbern or her people. Coughing, whaling, and readily expectation of death had become accustomed to even Schowbern's highest status citizens. For the past several months an intense disease has struck the Vensian people. An intense fever followed by rashes, an intense cough, boils, swelling, vomiting, seizures, and inevitably leads to either death or suicide. Reports have varied, but some estimate that nearly a hundred thousands Vensians have fallen to the disease. The people are weak, dying, and in desperate need of relief.

Within the King's Private Quarters
"My reign was foretold to be blessed by Gods!" the King scoffed. "Well, how blessed of a reign has it been? I have sat on the throne, but five short years and what have I to say for it? A collapsing economy, this bloody disease, and now dreaded slave rebellion!" Servants bustled throughout the room tending to the King's boiled face, rashed rump, and his normally unpleasant facial figure. "How long have these Verbumite dogs been under our control? Five, six, maybe even seven hundred years! And now, yes now, during my ungodly awful reign as King do they choose to rebel? Oh, how long will the Gods now torment me with the crown!" The King always complained of course, but given the circumstances his groaning had grown more unpleasant than usual.

"Hail, King Javo Valentinus!" The General, whose name King Javo never to remember, said entering. "Your majesty, our reports show increased Verbumite troubles in the West. Reports say that several hundred more Verbs have escaped from their posts, destroying them in the process."
The King sighed, this usually meant the General wanted an answer, a decree, some sort of response from the King. "Yes, I know. I have heard the endless complaints of the farmers, the miners, the cobblers, the blacksmiths, the carpenters, the women, the men, the children, the sick, the well, the rich, the poor, and everyone's mother in this Gods forsaken country complain about the precious slaves running to freedom. What am I to do about it?"
The General coughed, no doubt a sign of the impending fever "Ahem, your majesty, I have prepared a hundred of my very best men to hunt these dogs down an-"
"Take care of all my Verb troubles right General? I grow so tired of these meetings. If I have heard it once then I have heard it a thousand more times! I do not care for your speech. I do not care for your hundred. However, I do care about results. Not one hundred, not two, nor three, nor four, but five hundred men will go with you West to resolve our runaway slave problem. The ones you find are to be made a public example to the other dogs of what happens when you disobey."
"Yes your highness, it shall be done, but ugh your highness?"
"What General?" the King sighed in annoyance.
"What shall we do for the ones we cannot find?" The General said with some level of excitement.
"Ah General, give them a reason to come home to their Masters will you?"
"Yes, my King it shall be as you say it."

Thus begun the first of many evil acts King Javo Valentinus would commit against the Verbumite people.