itdontmatta

@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Lora&display=swap'); @import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=PT+Serif&display=swap'); #custom h1 { font-family: 'PT Serif', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: 1em } #custom h2 { font-family: 'PT Serif', serif; line-height: 1; font-size: 24px; color: #3586b5; } #custom h3 { font-family: 'PT Serif', serif; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0.5em; font-size:18px; color: #448db8; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-style: dashed; } #custom p { font-family: 'Lora', serif; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; font-size:16px; } Internal Conflict “The need to clothe and shoe our soldiers was unnecessary, for each man crafted his own armor, compelled by a desire to shield his homeland from the fiercest foe - that which lurks within his own." - Charles I, King of Aaun, 6th of the Sun’s Smile, 121 S.A. Revolution “Heinrik, in order to secure our freedom and posterity, we must mount an offensive against the King of Aaun and his men. We must see this war through. Though you are a man of peaceful intentions, the Aaunites lay in wait for us like sloven carrion, desiring our lands and the fruits of our labor. Unjustly so. We must push until we reach their capital city and even then we cannot relent. Otherwise, I fear for the future of our children, and their children’s children.” - Advisor to the Duke of Adria Heinrik Sarkozic, 121 S.A. Rebellions “When Sedan asserted their independence, we bore the responsibility to quell their defiance. It was upon us to lay siege to their land.” “The need to clothe and shoe our soldiers was unnecessary, for each man crafted his own armor, compelled by a desire to shield his homeland from the fiercest foe - that which lurks within his own." - Account from the counsel of Joseph II, 1811

@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Lora&display=swap'); @import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=PT+Serif&display=swap'); #custom h1 { font-family: 'PT Serif', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: 1em } #custom h2 { font-family: 'PT Serif', serif; line-height: 1; font-size: 24px; color: #3586b5; } #custom h3 { font-family: 'PT Serif', serif; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0.5em; font-size:18px; color: #448db8; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-style: dashed; } #custom p { font-family: 'Lora', serif; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; font-size:16px; } Dancing Between Peril and Glory “Later, when I asked why they'd plundered the lands of our people—they gave no satisfying answer. And that's just it…war is cruel and arbitrary. Nations declare war freely at their own peril…and as for us, well, now we're just a footnote in the history of conquest.” - Anonymous Diplomat’s Chronicle Acts of War “It was then upon the death of King Enor Sheffield that the first of Humanity’s history of recurrent infighting was conceived. In the absence of a legitimate Orenian ruler, Humanity fractured into several disparate states. This feud culminated in a war between Gaius Marius and Eze’kiel Tarus, the representatives of Hanseti and Galahar respectively, and so began the first of Humanity’s long feuds – one waged over human territorial boundaries.” - A History of the Phoenix Revolution, by Anne I How Our Travels Cost Us “When my army embarked upon the Southbridge campaign, I beheld the combined forces of Haense and Urguan from the hills of Eastfleet. The songs remember the banners streaming in the wind; the tapestries remember the great triumphs and losses; and the survivors remember the blood they shed along the way. Each soldier's attire, every pair of boots that tread upon hostile soil, carried a hefty price, and each tile of land we crossed demanded an additional 5 minas per soldier for resupplies. All I could remember afterwards was how much the bloody thing cost.” - Sigismund III, King of Hanseti-Ruska, 10th of Sun’s Smile, 58 S.A The Gamble of Wartime Alliances "The moment Urguan's warcry on Imperial Oren echoed across the realm we found ourselves on the edge of a precarious decision. Aligning ourselves with Oren meant risking being caught in the crossfire. There was no guarantee Urguan would not redirect their wrath to our shores. In the end, we stood with Urguan—to do otherwise was a risk teetering on the brink of devastation.” - Reminiscence of a Haelun'orian citizen Violating Sovereignty “When Norland declared war on Imperial Oren during the Tenth Nordling War, we found ourselves unable to reach them to provide support in their offensive. We were essentially trapped by the Orenian Empire, which had a formidable surplus of troops. Stepping onto their sovereign land would have resulted in immediate conflict, hindering our ability to aid Norland. Moreover, they possessed the advantage of defending their own territory. We were uncertain of the location of their forces, leaving us vulnerable to their choice of defensive positions along our path.” - Norli Starbreaker, Grand King of Urguan, 4th of Grand Harvest, 25 S.A Victory “Observe the outer lands of Aeroch’nor. The absence of fortresses and settlements. Should we now advance into their dominion, we may annex their territory now in totality, or plunder their coffers. Doing both, however, is beyond our present means. A tenth of their mina shall immediately become ours, and we shall be able to at the very least ensure our dominion over their realm for two Saint’s months at the maximum.” The balding figure of Emperor John I stroked his pencil chin pensively. “Annexation of their people will require time, should we plunder Aeroch’nor, we could take a fourth of their treasury in one fell swoop, ruin their fortress, and maintain our control there for eight winters. Perhaps we might snag one of their relics, too, if luck favors the bold.” An advisor rang out, “But what does it mean to subjugate? Why not simply annex it, Your Imperial Majesty?” “Annexation,” uttered Emperor John I with clairvoyance, “Will require time. We cannot simply instantaneously assimilate them into our empire with brute strength. Extraction of their citizens and leadership could lead to a guerrilla war that sustains for us heavy losses.” “Shall we siege the capital then?” Another advisor queried the Emperor imploring him for guidance. “If we were to do that much, all of their territory would follow suit. However, we must ensure that each strip of their land is taken. Otherwise, we may not have full control over our vassals, they would be able to impose their own terms of sovereignty. As would an exclave, or colony, for instance.” - The Life and Conquests of John I by Wilfreda Lange Siege Equipment “The sun blazed overhead and cast a harsh light on the wartorn city. Márton’s voice ushered a simple authority as he spoke unto the legion, "Prepare the ballistas and man the trebuchets!" With sweat glistening on his brow, he opened his mouth to speak once more, and watched as a certain female legionnaire was crushed beneath the weight of the Josephites’ counter-trebuchet projectile. Then and there, the siege began with a grim reminder – oftentimes battles were decided not at swordpoint, but instead at the summit of larger weapons and the wits behind their organization.” - An accounting by Adalbert de Villeneuve from the Siege of Helena on the 12th of Tobias' Bount, 1716. Eligibility “As it stands, Valentin, we will need a Saint’s month before our soldiers will truly be ready to see battle. My legions from abroad can not participate, it is unfeasibly expensive. We need to ensure that we’re not just throwing our boys in red into the meat grinder. Give me twenty days and twenty nights and that should be enough to teach them the basic formations, equipment tactics, and call-outs. Even our greenest soldiers will be able to send the Pennyduke’s forces to an early grave. Hell, Maude should be able to kill some of those bastards!” - Sir Paul Montalt, Battle of Valfleur, Petran Civil War