The place is Western Europe. The year is 1901.
Seven of the continent's largest superpowers stand at the precipice of either ruin or revolution. Each Country's standard of living and international prowess have advanced with unprecedented speed. The Industrial revolution has long since installed technological advancement into the heart of the developed world. Each separate government has received the blessings of modernity in turn. In the past decade these economic giants have experienced accelerated material growth surpassing any benchmark of the previous century.
Many hope that the seven largest contenders on the geopolitical proving ground will be able to martial their collective skills of negotiation and conflict resolution. If these seven industrial magnates can reach peaceful accords with one another there will be no doubt of Europe's benevolent ascension into the realms of commercial prosperity. There is one issue standing in the way between the old western pillars of civilization and their future as a consecrated realm of peace and continued advancement.
The new surplus each country owns is not of agriculture but of scientific progress, signalling the obsolescence of the old territorial boundaries. The dusty maps of the countries' original borders do not take into account the explosive intellectual growth visited on each of the chief holds in the past decades. It is predictable that the gaze of each country has begun to shift outward with envious intent. History dictates that none of these countries will be content to remain within the limits of their antique allotments of space on the continent.
With the advent of motorized vehicles and indomitable ships geography no longer corrals the respective populace of any given region. None would wager that the old maps' borderlines would last much longer in the path of these economic and industrial titans. The prospect of the heroic nations waltzing arm and arm into an age of harmony and understanding will not bare the coming macro-political jealousies. Each country is becoming more valuable by the minute and less secure by the second.
Enter our Seven heroes.
Each period of civil strife and international warfare throughout history has been characterized by iconic individuals acting as generals, political officials and fearless commanders. These men come to stand for a nation's tireless fighting spirit. One man's bravery in the face of adversity stands for the bravery of entire fighting forces and communities of steadfast civilians. None would have been so confident and successful through trying times of relentless warfare were in not for the transparency, decency and undaunted courage exhibited by these figureheads toward their loyal subjects and citizens. Famous examples throughout the past include:
George Washington (Assassin of King George III and first president of United States),
Narmer/Menes (Unified upper and lower Nile, founder of the First Dynasty of Egypt)
Elvis Presley (King of Rock and Roll)
On this international platform seven men have come forward as the absolute masterminds of their respective countries. The responsibility of commanding and strategic formulation rests upon each of their shoulders. The task of sustaining the hearts and minds of their people rests in their hands. Their roles as either adversaries, aides or even allies to one another will require each of their full talents as negotiators, ambassadors and (dare we say) Diplomats. Given the inevitable approach of war there is a singular hope for the peace-loving supporters of our seven heroes. To have the conflict over with as little bloodshed or time spent away from a loving home is the dream of all our heroes constituent followers.
Each of our heroes will be issuing a press release in the coming week to reaffirm their roles and issue statements about their beliefs, values and attitudes toward the coming times of grand-scale uncertainty. Those participants are:
Paul Villa, Commander par excellence of the forces of Italy
Nicholas Olivier, Unmatched Dictator issuing orders to the warriors of Austria
Chris Gabbard, Master and adviser Leading the fearless regiments of Germany
Sasan Kasravi, Supreme overseer of the battalions of England
Thomas Sherard, Strategist and High King of France
Tom Lonzo, Administrator of the unfathomable legions of Russia
Timmy Van Ness, Director in Chief of Turkey
