ASCENDANT INFLUENCE GROWING IN BRITISH CHINA. Taipei, United Kingdom of Great Britain. The Ascendant cause has been seeing growing influence and strength throughout regions even not under their control. The British islands of Formosa and Hainan have been having growing activity by the Ascendants throughout the region, as they preach against Europeans and their rule over Chinese soil. This has culminated in a series of attacks upon the British Royal Navy, as several have been set afire by Chinese saboteurs. The culprits have been retained and arrested by the British colonial authorities, helping to stabilize the region to a degree. Unfortunately the damage has been done, as the British ships have proven to be unable to be recovered due to the attacks. (-3 Third Rate Warships, -2 Second Rate Warships)
DALAI LAMA DIES, NEW REINCARNATION FOUND. Lhasa, Tibet. As the war continues to rage on the frontiers with the Ascendant's Kingdom of Holy China, the Dalai Lama who led the rebellion against the deposed emperor. Furthermore the ninth Dalai Lama has done his best to preserve the nation from Ascendant invasion and has been fairly successful. The Tibetans immediately began a search for the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama soon after his death, and after several months declared success. The new Dalai Lama was found and has begun his training for the position, as the government continues to struggle to preserve their independence. The hopes remain that the leaders of Tibet will still be able to preserve the nation from invasion and attack by the growing power of the Ascendants.
JAPANESE-KOREAN WAR CONTINUES. Seoul, Korea. The fighting continues rage on the Korean peninsula as the Japanese continued to push their claims against Korea and its rulers. The Japanese have continued to bring in reinforcements, including aid from their allies in Scandinavia. The Koreans managed to score an initial victory by devastating the Japanese cavalry patrols and blinding them to their movements. The Japanese managed to recover from this initial setback, despite advancing further northward against the Koreans. They were drawn into a battle of Korea's making, which nearly resulted into disaster. Regardless, the Japanese were able to use their superiority in firepower to devastate the Korean artillery and shattering their army. The Koreans were forced to withdraw, beaten but not routed. With this success, the Japanese have cautiously pushed upon Seoul, and have laid it under siege. The city defenses continued hold, as the Korean cavalry raids against Japanese supply lines running from the southern coast.
Casualty Lists
Japan: 3 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade
Korea: 5 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 4 Artillery Brigades
VILLAGE BURNING CAUSES WAR BETWEEN BURMA AND SIAM. Bangkok, Siam. The Burmese have been brought into a war against Siam as a few villages were burned by Siamese raiders across the border. The Burmese have retaliated with a full invasion of Siam, as they strike to expand their own holdings and empire in Indochina. The government of Burma has also gathered support from an unlikely ally. The Polish army and navy has provided substantial support to the Burmese as they began aiding them with a naval and army presence. Rumors suggest that the Burmese have promise a fair slice of Siam to the Poles and the resulting influence in the region as well. The first major battle was one at sea, as the Poles and Burmese struck a decisive blow against the Siamese naval capacity. This is the first time the Polish navy has ever been tested in battle since its creation, especially with new steamships. The result was a stalemate, in which the Poles did manage to gain a wind advantage, but the surprising determination of the Siamese resulted in surprising devastation against the Polish ships. The result has been neither side gaining advantage at sea, but forcing the Polish warships to take a temporary respite in Rangoon. The Poles came back quickly from this setback, invading southern Siam from the sea. They managed to win a significant victory against the Siamese, smashing the local army, and securing the region. The Burmese launched their own invasion across the borders, and the result was an overwhelming defeat and rout of their army.
Casualty Lists
Burma: 13 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 4 Artillery Brigades, 3 First Rate Warships
Poland: 2 Infantry Brigades, 10
Crescent-class Warships
Siam: 14 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 3 Artillery Brigades, 18 Fifth Rate Warships, 10 First Rate Warships
EUROPEAN COALITION AGAINST CHINA COLLAPSES. Manila, Empire of Holy Spain. The year began fairly promising as a number of European nations struggled to assemble themselves into a coalition to resist the Ascendant domination of China. The effort failed spectacularly as the Kingdoms of Paris-Burgundy attempted to muster forces to relieve Guangzhou. The effort failed as various other nations failed to agree on terms to get involved in the region, and the coalition collapsed before it even began. The forces in already deployed in and around China have quickly withdrew as Ascendant pressure grew upon the Guangzhou Emperor. The Poles and Scandinavians, as the only nations to possess an active military force in China were forced to retreat under pressure, with a very real risk of being overrun. The Dutch have also pulled out of their bases in Manila, and it seems that no relief for China will come from the European imperialists any time soon. This has been seen as a devastating failure of European imperial policy and as a massive blow to endeavors in the Far East as a whole. Combined with the growing war between Britain and Spain, it seems to have set the European world into a downward economic spiral.
WAR COMING TO AN END IN CHINA. Peking, Ascendant's Kingdom of Holy China. The war in China seems to be coming down to a conclusion, as the Ascendants drove against Guangzhou for what could be the last time. The withdrawal from Guangzhou by the Polish and Scandinavian armies has left a major gap in the defenses of the emperor against the Ascendants. The result has been a massive devastation of local morale, particularly as the emperor himself was believed to have fled in the night away from the battlefield. The Ascendants have brought to an end the siege of Guangzhou, attacking the city from all sides, and overrunning the beleaguered defenders. As with Shanghai and other European trading ports, the Ascendants have pillaged and razed the city in a fresh orgy of violence. Guangzhou has been devastated, leaving only burning ruins in the wake of the Ascendant army. Regardless, the Ascendants have managed to secure the remnants of the Chinese navy, which has already passed through the hands of four factions throughout the course of the war. The victory has crushed the last major group of resistance against the Ascendant kingdom, leaving only Tibet as an undecided factor in the raging conflict in China.
Casualty Lists
Ascendant's Kingdom of Holy China: 35 Infantry Brigades, 5 Cavalry Brigades, 12 Artillery Brigades, 390 Manpower (+2 Army Quality)
Guangzhou: 31 Infantry Brigades, 7 Cavalry Brigades, 20 Artillery Brigades
SPECIAL: War of the American Presidency
INVASION OF GEORGIA. Atlanta, United States of America. The army of Florida under General Albert Winning at last entered into the war this year, walking into the awaiting arms of Scott's army in Georgia. The armies of Scott were expecting this offensive, and a considerable force was waiting the Floridian approach. Further adding to their woes, the governors of Alabama and Mississippi were forced to recall their militias and troops adding to the main Floridian army after a slave uprising took place, threatening homes and plantations. The result was a loss on the battlefield, as the larger artillery corps of Scott's army devastated Floridian possessions and shattered their advancing troops. Though they were not routed, the Floridians were forced to withdraw from the battlefield. The army of Scott did not follow up on this victory, but still joyously celebrated the overwhelming defeat of the invading secessionists.
Casualty Lists
Florida: 3 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 1 Artillery Brigade
United States of America (Scott Faction): 2 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade
FIGHTING IN THE WEST. Fort Kearny, United States of America. At last, scattered fighting has broken out through the western territories as a small group of Floridians began a scattered invasion of the far west. Unfortunately, as before, the armies of Scott were well prepared for this move, and had substantial forces at hand to repulse the invaders. The Floridians did manage to take a couple small settler towns, but the local militias kept the armies backing Scott well informed on any movements that the invaders made. This made it incredibly easy for them to lure the Floridian cavalry into traps, ultimately smashing them with few casualties of their own. The Floridians have recovered from this defeat, but any further attacks into the west have been postponed as it's clear that the territories are securely under Scott's control.
Casualty List
Florida: 1 Cavalry Brigade
INVASION OF OHIO. Louisville, United States of America. The secondary fighting in the northern theaters of the war this year took place with Scott's men invading the state of Ohio. The effort was a clear move to cut off gubernatorial forces in the west, as well as sabotage the attempts of the governors to open a western back door into Virginia. The governors soon responded by sending an army to respond, hoping to keep the Ohio River clear of any more of Scott's forces. The army of Scott did manage to keep the gubernatorial cavalry off their backs initially, due to superior numbers, but were horrified to find that the enemy army was significantly larger than their own. Regardless, the first main battle was engaged at the small town of Athens, where, undaunted by the odds, the forces of Scott won a brilliant victory, as Scott's backer in the region, General Lee, kept his enemy off-balance at all times. With the defeat of the initial army sent to contain Lee's advance, more troops were brought from western Virginia to defend Ohio. Still outnumbered nearly three to won, General Lee's army astonishingly kept up the attack. Unfortunately, his next attack proved less successful at the battle of Marietta, where his inferior numbers almost allowed him to be trapped and destroyed. After a blood battle, he forced a stalemate upon the governors' armies, but was ultimately forced to withdraw across the Ohio River back into Kentucky.
Casualty Lists
United States of America (Gubernatorial Faction): 9 Infantry Brigades, 3 Cavalry Brigades, 2 Artillery Brigades
United States of America (Scott Faction): 4 Infantry Brigades, 3 Cavalry Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade
INVASION OF PENNSYLVANIA. Harrisburg, United States of America. With the gubernatorial army in western Virginia forced to withdraw to deal with the threat of the attack into Ohio, the largest armies began fighting in Pennsylvania. The army led by Scott invaded Pennsylvania from Maryland, and the governors' army was quick to respond. The nature of roads and the growing railroad network in the region drew both armies early to the small, young hamlet of Gettysburg, where the first major battle of the campaign was fought. The result was a bloody battle, which left the governors' army beaten, and Scott in control of the main roads headed north into the heartland of Pennsylvania. Harrisburg was soon captured, and the army of Scott continued their advance to the west to the growing industrial center of Pittsburgh. Faced with the tough decision of moving west and leaving the east coast exposed or allowing the rest of Pennsylvania to fall to Scott, the army of the governors withdrew east, though they made one more attack north of Harrisburg. They were soundly defeated, allowing the army of Scott to proceed west with little disturbance as the governors' main army licks their wounds in New York and New Jersey. Faced with the dire threat of losing their link to the Erie Canal and main supply line to the west, the governors' army could not allow the advance to continue beyond Pittsburgh. Marching east from Ohio, while leaving substantial garrison in that state and western Virginia, the army in the west was forced to relieve pressure put on Lee's army in Kentucky in order to oppose this new threat, while receiving cavalry support from the eastern army. At the Battle of Erie, Scott's army was defeated by the governors at last, though not truly decisively, leaving them still precariously perched over the main supply line west.
Casualty Lists
United States of America (Gubernatorial Faction): 11 Infantry Brigades, 4 Cavalry Brigades, 2 Artillery Brigades
United States of America (Scott Faction): 10 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 3 Artillery Brigades
SPAIN'S NAVAL CAMPAIGN IN SOUTH AMERICA. Rio de Janeiro, Empire of Brazil. As local support mounts against the Spanish in various nations along the coast, the matters have not been improved by a massive Spanish naval offensive directed at Brazil's naval capacity. The Spanish navy began by amassing in Puerto Rico and ultimately heading in force against the Brazilian coastline, leaving a trail of flaming coastal cities and ships behind them. Any vessel with a Brazilian flag has been sunk or seized along the coast, devastating local trade and fishing. Ultimately, the Spanish drew out what remained of the Brazilian navy off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, and smashed it into oblivion. With no steamships or any modern warships present, the main Brazilian fleet was utterly wiped out in a decisive victory. The victory would be followed up by swifter Spanish ships managing to corner and force a battle with the blockade around Montevideo. The blockading Brazilian force was also destroyed completely, with no hope for escape, though they managed to inflict superior damage against the Spanish than the whole of their sailing fleet. The Spanish proceeded from their victory here to take the Falkland Islands from Britain, achieving easy success against the two ancient sailing vessels protecting the islands.
Casualty List
Empire of Brazil: 4 Fifth Rate Warships, 17 Fourth Rate Warships, 5 Second Rate Warships, 3 First Rate Warships, 1
Granada-class Warship, 3
Norwich-class Warships
Empire of Holy Spain: 6 Second Rate Warships, 2
Neptuno-class Warships, 2
Toledo-class Warships
United Kingdom of Great Britain: 2 Third Rate Warships
WAR IN INDIA. Calcutta, United Kingdom of Great Britain. The fighting in India could be said to have started this year in the North Atlantic. To the surprise and dismay of the Royal Navy and despite British attempts to mask the passing of reinforcements for India near Iberia, the route of the convoy was found out by Spanish spies. This enabled them to intercept the course of the convoy and attack it. A skilled defense by the British warships did ultimately allow some of them to escape into the vast expanse of the South Atlantic, but the damage was done, inflicted against the British brigades as whole regiments went down with their ships. Ultimately both Spanish and British reinforcements made it to India, where the British have amassed a substantial fleet to challenge region Spanish superiority. The Spanish launched some small raids against smaller British groups, but were unable to stop them massing in eastern India. The resulting British fleet was able to successfully pin down and utterly destroy the Spanish navy in India, giving them complete control of the Indian Ocean. The British have greatly exploited this, denying any further supplies or reinforcements from Europe to the Spanish armies. With these setbacks on the high seas and a growing lack of support from local Indian princes, the Spanish army has found itself faced with disadvantages at almost every turn, hardly offset by superiority in cavalry. While the Spanish were able to blind British scouts nearly immediately, they still faced an enormous challenge ahead of them. Early in the year, the British were able to seize even more land, driving the local princes and Spanish armies before them, and linking up both sections of India. With the British forced to divide into various armies to keep up a consistent advance, the Spanish hoped to engage and defeat them in detail. The first major such battle was at Indore, in the heartland of some of the most fertile farmland in India. Despite being woefully outnumbered and with no support coming from the local prince, the Spanish engaged the British army to lift the siege of the city. Their superior firepower and training went a long way toward the resulting victory, but the larger British army made it a hard fought contest. By the end, though the British were not routed, they were forced to retreat, constantly being harried by Spanish cavalry. Further west, a smaller Spanish force managed to win a delaying action at Surat, allowing the main Spanish army to arrive and confront the British forces there. The odds were marginally better for the Spanish here, as they faced the British in battle. This time, the British army was utterly routed in fighting, and Surat was liberated as the Spanish managed to maneuver behind British lines without the enemy patrols ever spotting them.
Casualty Lists
Empire of Holy Spain: 12 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 2 Artillery Brigades, 9 Second Rate Warships, 2 First Rate Warships, 1
Santiago-class Armed Transport, 1
Monarch-class Warship, 3
Norwich-class Warships 8
Neptuno-class Warships, 6
Toledo-class Warships (+1 Stability in Spanish India)
United Kingdom of Great Britain: 19 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 8 Artillery Brigades, 7 Third Rate Warships, 5 Second Rate Warships, 2 First Rate Warships, 15
Monarch-class Warships, 1
Norwich-class Warship, 2
Hermes-class Armed Transports
WAR ON THE HIGH SEAS. Seville, Empire of Holy Spain. The war has continued to take an enormous toll upon the commerce of the high seas, especially the Atlantic Ocean. No major fleet actions emerged in the Atlantic this year, as the British began adopting a strategy of whittling down Spanish naval power through lightning attacks and raids. The strategy has proven successful as British ships are typically fast enough to engage in any battle upon their own terms. Unfortunately some unwise captains have picked off more than they could chew in battles, occasionally and foolishly picking fights with the larger Spanish warships. This has paid off once or twice, but usually results in a sunken British raider. Both sides have clearly begun a war of commerce raiding each other's shipping, and this has had the greatest toll upon the Brazilians, who have adopted protecting their traders with their own vessels. The Floridians and both eastern factions have also adopted shameless raiding of enemy commerce, creating a very hostile environment across the Caribbean and northern Atlantic Ocean.
Casualty Lists
Empire of Brazil: 2
Libertador-class Warships
Florida: 1
Washington-class Warship
United Kingdom of Great Britain: 6
Monarch-class Warships
United States of America (Gubernatorial Faction): 2 Third Rate Warships
Empire of Holy Spain: 3 Second Rate Warships, 7
Neptuno-class Warships, 2
Toledo-class Warships
United States of America (Scott Faction): 2
Libertador-class Warships
Financial Section
LANGUEDOC PAYS OFF SPANISH LOAN. Barcelona, Empire of Holy Spain. The government of Languedoc at last finished repaying former a substantial loan taken from the Empire of Holy Spain a few years ago this year. The loan was taken out in order to secure the annexation of Provence, as well as the buildup of Languedoc's army to respond to a perceived threat from the Kingdoms of Paris-Burgundy. The loan is one of the largest made in recent European history and has made great strides to further tying together the economics of both Spain and Languedoc. The repayment of the loan comes in a timely manner as the War of the American Presidency continues to consume the efforts and economic abilities of the Spanish government.
SCANDINAVIAN AND FRENCH INTERESTS COMPETE IN JACKSONIA. Jefferson, Jacksonia. The nation of Jacksonia has begun being the center of a rising economic dispute between Scandinavia and the Kingdoms of Paris-Burgundy. Both nations have begun sponsoring significant economic investment in Jacksonia, as their merchants compete for influence. The result has been local turmoil as both parties take underhanded approaches to bribe Jacksonian officials and sabotage their competitors' operations. The losers in the contest have been the Jacksonian people, who have suffered as these two groups fight over economic control of local resources. So far it seems the Scandinavians have been coming out top in the competition, as they have significantly more financing and support behind them. (-1 Stability for Jacksonia)
NEW STOCK EXCHANGE OPENED IN PARIS. Paris, Kingdoms of Paris-Burgundy. King Louis of the Kingdoms of Paris-Burgundy has sponsored the construction and establishment of the Paris Stock Exchange. This has proven to be a growing center of commerce and commodities trading in France, which has not previously existed on any large scale. For the past few years of actual usage of stocks and related trading, most French trading has taken place in Spain or the United Kingdom, and the Paris Exchange offers an alternative to this commerce. The Paris market has proven incredibly productive and successful, making the Kingdoms a center of commercial activity in the region.
ECONOMIC FLUCTUATION REPORT. Madrid, Empire of Holy Spain.
Random Stat Changes and Fluctuations
POPULATION MIGRATIONS. Moderator's Note: As this has not been done for a while, this represents migrations that have taken place for a larger period of time, not just this year. Therefore while immigrants may look like they're headed to particularly unstable and/or blockaded regions now, they actually already did so years ago.
Military Quality Boost in Chile: +1 Army Quality and +1 Navy Quality
Diplomatic Pouch
To:
Republic of the Netherlands
From: Flanders
For the good of regional trade and development, we were hoping that you would adopt the same railroad gauge and cooperate with our construction and businessmen to help increase trade and relations between our two nations.
To:
Languedoc and
Kingdoms of Paris-Burgundy
From: Dauphine
The recent misbehaviors of your merchants are unacceptable, and we hope that you will do your best to reign in their activities and attacks upon each other. Their behavior poses a risk to the stability of the region and must be contained.
To:
Kingdoms of Paris-Burgundy, United Kingdom of Great Britain, Scandinavia, and
Empire of Holy Spain
From: Flanders
We have sought to avoid war in Europe and preserve our nation from the fear of invasion and attack, and we hope that you will join the Republic of the Netherlands in the guarantee of independence of our nation. We believe that the security of our nation is paramount and that Europe could use a center of tranquility and peace.
To:
Republic of the Netherlands
From: Venezuela
We have heard you offer reasonable prices for modern steam warships, and we are anxious to purchase a modern fleet from you. We are open to negotiation on prices and the development of our naval capacities.
OOC
To answer that hot question of the day: Yes, railroads are viable now for anyone who wishes to sink money into it or encourage private enterprise to sink money into it for them. There are of course a host of advantages and disadvantages to either approach, and I leave it to you to pick your poison, you delicious, delicious poison.
@Terrence888: A World's Fair like the one you previously launched would probably cost the same amount you spent last time, which I believe was about ten EP. If you wish to make it truly pompous, feel free to spend any amount more than that to make it a gala event for the ages.
To address the concerns expressed, the new Moscovite organization was NOT 1 EP in cost. It was 5 EP. Not sure what I was smoking when I made that error, but I assure you, no unnatural benefit was acquired by any player in the making of this mistake.
I apologize for any delay which may emerge in the posting of this update, throughout the whole process I've been plagued by the server going down quite frequently. I must commend all of you though, with the exception of a single person, all orders were received on time.
@kentharu: The education costs are still mandatory to be paid as part of the overhead for your nation. To this end, I have taken 20 EP out of the total expenses for your nation. This is a one-time thing though for all players, so next time, it'll hurt you in some unknown way.
@bombshoo: Despite the war, education costs still have to be paid. Therefore, I took off the extra EP from one of the Third Rate Warships you wanted built. This is a one-time thing though for all players, so next time, it'll hurt you in some unknown way.
@DarthNader: The odds wound up against you, but you did a good fight, and I'm assuming you in the place of the restored monarchy. Let me know if you want to stick with it or switch to another nation or regime.
World Map