Aldovian-Penglian War

The **Aldovian-Penglian War** occured in the 15th century between the Kingdoms of Aldovia and Penglia. It began over a dispute regarding silk road trading routes.

## Truce

A truce was declared on Christmas Eve 1419 in East Aldovia. A peace treaty was signed that night, just before midnight by Prince Claude of Aldovia and Prince Jun of Penglia.

## Centennial Treaty (also known as the Silk Road Treaty)

To honour peace & friendship between the two nations, the treaty is ceremonially renewed every 100 years. After each signing, protection of the treaty alternates between the two countries. As of 2019, it is currently under the protection of Penglia.

It is customary for the visiting monarch to sign the treaty first, followed by the host monarch. Historically, only the Kings would sign, however as of 2019, their consorts are also permitted to sign, with Queen Ming of Penglia and Queen Amber of Aldovia the first to do so.

### 1819 theft of the treaty

In 1819, an attempt was made to steal the treaty whilst in Aldovia. However, the thief was swiftly apprehended and the treaty recovered.

### 2019 theft of the treaty

In 2019, the centennial treaty was stolen by Mr. Little (a member of the royal household) whose mother was a descendant of Prince Claude, who originally signed the treaty. The theft was first discovered at the official treaty signing ceremony. It was later recovered on Christmas Eve of that year when Queen Helena and Princess Emily discovered it in the dungeon of the Aldovia Royal Palace. They explored the dungeon on the advice of investigative blogger Queen Amber, who was unable to recover it personally due to the impending birth of Princess Elleri. Queen Helena and Princess Emily were temporarily entrapped in a dungeon cell and discovered the treaty hidden inside a stone box when Princess Emily's head struck the lid during the royal pair's attempts to escape. Queen Helena then quickly picked the lock using one of her hairpins, and they returned to Queen Amber's bedchamber with the recovered document. The treaty was and signed at 23:59, just in time for the midnight deadline. Mr. Little declared that his blood obligation had been fulfilled by the theft and did not resist his imprisonment in the Leopold Suite of the royal dungeon. He was later transferred to the Aldovian Central Prison.

### Curse

In Aldovian folklore, there is said to be a deadly *beshrew*, or curse, on the treaty. The curse supposedly befalls the firstborn child of the monarchs responsible for breaking the treaty. Tradition holds the curse was performed by a sorceress at the time of the initial treaty signing in order to incentivize the signatory powers to hold to its terms.

### Trivia

* The treaty comprises individual manuscript pages which are stitched together to form a long scroll rather than a codex.
* The pages are illuminated with elaborate artwork, further adding to the treaty's value as a priceless historical artifact.
* If the treaty is not ceremonially renewed every 100 years, the kingdoms of Aldovia and Penglia technically revert to a state of war despite being close allies. However, neither realm presently has a standing military.
* The treaty may apparently be renewed some days prior to the Christmas Eve deadline, but not after it.