A time of Blood and Fear.

[recondia]

Holstria started sending out small skirmish units under the command of mercenary captains their misson is to seize towns and villages.

[recondia]

They would wipe out anyt faction that opposed the Empire.

[recondia]

They closly approached other Empires and going to war with the italians such as the milanians and venicians and scilcilians

[recondia]

within the year the king of Venice was killed in battle and not to long after the prince of Sicily was dead too. As for Milan they lost their only coastal area to the Holstrians.

[recondia]

The polish and Russians had carved out an Empire in eastern europe while France and Especially Holstria Carved out there in eastern and western europe within the year France declared war on Holstria unfortunatly the only men defending Holstria Western border happend to be very poorly trained but the war was on.

[Juz]

Just north of the italian penensula loomed the mighty Juzian Forest. It's might was impenatrable, since they walled the entire forest, as the romans did in thier time. The Juzian Knights only needed to gaurd the walls.

[recondia]

Emperor Ludwig V was at the frontlines in the fort in what was Holstrian occupied Anjou, The french pouring through with well armoured and trained men while the massive practically untrained forces swarmed out to meet them, this war would cost thousands of lives and with Holstria going into debt for a few years at most things would be bad.

[Juz]

A Juzian scout came to te Holstrians from the forest. "Does your conquest involve our forest? If so, considering that your sword is Iron, I would not even attempt it."

[recondia]

Emperor Ludwig V- I do not know, the lands around your area have switched hands so many times it will be hard to tell who will ever rule it. first the Italians had it then the spanish sent a force in then the french came and assualted every faction in the area including my armys after we re-captured Genoa the sicilians have taken over, who I have an alliance with at this moment. we have no interest in assualting your area but if it comes down to it we will many of the small factions are gaining land and we must keep one step ahead to make sure we are still recongnized as an Empire.

Side note- The only progress made when the war began and even many years later into the war was the capture of Anjou, The recapture of Genoa, The recapture of Milan, The recapture of Austria. When the french came into the italian area they attacked every faction including the Holstrians. The french fought and won the occupation of northern italy which by the issue of borders cut off a Holstrian Province, The Holstrians with a massed army fought for over thirty years till finally Austria was their agian the Genoan province had long been un -cut off by the time Austria was taken more then three French Armys were cut off, Hundreds of miles away from their native french soil. And to make matters worse for Holstria their army was spread thin the only thing that truly protected them and gave them vicotry at this time was UNITY.

[Juz]

"The Juzian Forest has never been ruled by outsiders, the lands around it are not our care."

[recondia]

Then it appears that you shall not be attacked at this time but that all dpends I mean you have a small area compared to other ruling factions you are small therefore you could be attacked by anyone.

[Juz]

"We may have a small area by your standards, but your weapons are not even of the same material as ours, and your fighters could not best us. As a matter of fact, I challenge your best fighter to a duel." the Scout pulled out an odd dagger.

[recondia]

Emperor Ludwig V- Ah! try and find a good fighter here they are all ither Dead or at the front and most of them I assure you are dead the last great men out there are keeping my armies together.

[recondia]

Emperor Ludwig V- Well wait there is one, He is a commander I have in Austria he alone defeated what was left of the attacking french army he took out about half a platoon.

[Juz]

"Hello commander, would you like a duel? You have never fought a Juzian before."