Progression Period 1: Take Hvitskag Serious

Guldar
Ailred Drulviirn transported along the Leylines to Junction West, at the heart of the Guldar Volcano ranges. Having arrived in the same hall that Cordenia and others arrived to in the past, it was uncharacteristically quiet, mostly seeming as if nobody was home, save for a small campfire off on the side with the Sapphic Isldar, one with Magic, one with Sword, staring him down. After some conversing, Ailred got away with some tidbits of information, and some unanswered questions. The two Isldar, who acted as a kind of officer under the West Matron who was absent, said they were aware of the Demon incursions, but that there were still more pressing matters than local outbreaks that did not constitute a global event. They remarked how most of them occurred within the purview of the north and central authorities, and that as such, local forces should deal with them, and that Qaarn will only act when Regulus and Aurora prove too weak to do so. It was obvious that Ailred would not be allowed to access any of the Leyjunction West's functions as only the Matron could, so he didn't even try. Further inquiries towards Suel were largely dodged, but the Mage Isldar did remark that Suel had been "Designing with Dragon toys from the very beginning", before the conversation was abruptly ended with the arrival of the strange looking Elf-like person with no nose and bug-like eyes who hushed the two, and forced Ailred back from where he had come.

Arlora
Hexenblood members under Anathema, Saren, Kabili, Emile, Amir, Wynnara, Argo, Casper, Lora and Xaella travelled to Arlora to contact the local garrisons on their status towards the Demons that had come from the Arloran Vaarda gate. Upon arriving, they found heavy fortifications around the Vaarda Gate, which remained open, but nothing was coming out. Better yet, there were piles upon piles of Demon corpses, some burning as the locals were cremating them, some still being piled up, along with curious technological devices mounted on walls. The Arloran pioneers had built automatically reloading and rotating axis multi-barrel Almuttaq Rifles which they had lovingly called "Puff Guns", rapid firing anti-Magic rounds and moving down the Demons as they came out of the gate. The local commander bragged that not a single Demon had escaped into the sky, but a later technician remarked that the success rate was closer to 86%, and that the technical limitations of the device meant it could only swing in a slight horizontal axis, not a vertical one, and could not account for the flying Demons. They remarked they had no idea where they went, but that they were holding back from entering the gate, because "no good thing ever came from entering a magical portal blind".

Hedryll
Hexenblood led by Saren, Wynnara, Gesang, Casper, Gehrman, Lora, Argo, Amir, Anathema and Emile travelled to Hedryll to try and scout the waterside, but no real information could be gleamed from navally scouting a large country like Hedryll, and the fact that most of it was snowy rock and forest which blocked sight of any would be events on the inlands. Saren eventually smuggled Gesang into the interior, where they used their Urlan abilities to find nothing more of interest. It seemed that the Demons, having come from the gate, had immediately left to nobody knew where. Supposedly the gate opened in the middle of a snow storm, and so the locals had no idea anything had come out, and had simply built a makeshift barricade around the gate to stop anything more from coming out if indeed it would. Nothing more could be discovered.

The Foreign Minister Riftan Vaedra and Aaliyah to meet with the King, who responded to the following inquiries: The proposal for industrialization was responded to with no real enthusiasm, the King clearly not entertained by the idea of a southerner affecting the economic way of life in Hedryll, even if that meant improving the lives of the citizens. The King eventually disregards the proposal when Musketes and military rewards are mentioned, commenting foremost that as a non-Heartland province, they are largely still being treated like a colony by the Empire, and that they don't want to entrench that unequal relation even further by fetching more rewards from the government and getting taxed to death over it.

Midskag
Asatyavadin travelled to Middeskag to treat with the locals and understand the situation better, which seemingly was a 50-50 split between supporting the Queen-Regent and staying loyal to Nordskag, and the other half intending to break away in an independence movement (which would also break them from Regalian control). A slow and steady attempt was started to pro-Regalianize their intentions, while also investigating the Vaarda Gate, which was found to be empty, though also, in fact, completely destroyed. Upon questioning further, the locals remarked it did open, and Demons did come forth, but Halfvel and the "King of Winter", came, Halfvel "swallowing the Demons whole", and the King of Winter "Tearing Bev's Gate asunder". The language was vague, but Asatyavadin figured out that the gate was destroyed after it had opened, but also detected in the way the locals spoke, that while this seemed "good", that it was also a major form of sacrilege, even if performed by two literal Old Gods.

The Foreign Minister and Avael traveled to Middeskag later, discovering much of the same of the above. The Foreign Minister is however banned from participating from local games, as he is considered a cultural outsider that even stupid luck could not save him from.

Hvitskag
Xorakk travelled to Hvitskag, sneaking their way to the Skagger Chiefs in order to learn their old codes and become a Hvitskag ally, except the Hvitskaggers absolutely hated Urlan with all of their being (as Urlan have a havit of abducting and forcing Symbiosis on Velheim Ailor in Hvitskag), and so Xorakk got beaten up and left for dead, but they escaped back to Regalia eventually after playing dead.

Revna, Viggo, Taalgir, Tarlok, Tehgren, and Xorakk travel to Hvitskag, in an attempt to fight the locals? And they get horribly clowned on because the locals have been dealing with Urlan raids for literal centuries, and dealing with a never-ending war with Regalia and Nordskag, so unfortunately the Urlan get out-wild-predatored (this Ability should not be used as as a catch all solution to problems in progressions) and left for dead. Luckily Xorakk taught all of them that playing dead seems to work for the Hvitskaggers, and so they all play dead and then limp back to Regalia afterwards. (To also remark, this order would have been extremely awkward if Xorakk's earlier order had passed through. It may be worthwhile to get direct consent from all members to immediately try and ruin whatever goodwill they build up in a previous prog order, if there was any. The fact that these two orders directly contradict each other implies there was no proper communication between sendee, and participant).

Nordskag
The Aelriggan + friends led by Cadwyn, Wilvamair, Astrid, Avael, Tirion, Raffaela, Khadija, Kaya and Isobel traveled to Nordskag to the Queen-Regent's court. With Kaya Sorenvik in charge of the talking, as a native, the court seemed far more receptive to a bunch of armored Regalian knights and pals. The Queen Regent remarked that Demons had indeed come from the gates, but that they were "dealing with one problem at a time", because the king was still missing a giant flesh blob had just created a crater hole in the castle walls while fighting a Vampire on the way down the cliffs, while also dealing with further potential Vampire presence in the country. They said that Demons had not attacked anyone, and that while some of them seemed to linger in places, most of them flew up and left, they had no idea where. They did remark that some of the scouts sent out, indicated that some of them were behaving "strangely". Strangely in the sense that they seemed to keel over, writhe a bit on the floor, and then turn into what seemed like a confused Velheim-appearing Ailor, though immensely disheveled, before running off into a nearby forest for cover. They were unsure whether this was an intentional disguise or shapeshifting ability of the Demons, or something unaccounted for. The Queen-Regent remarked that there was nothing overtly anyone could do to help Nordskag, except to get "Reynaud to pass the damn heartland act and include Nordskag", believing that official recognition would unlock more favorable relation with the Empire, and also a more equal treatment of the territory, unlocking a bunch of bureaucratic benefits it currently did not. A Slizzar shadowed the group, but found no purpose to act. A single lone Marken stood by the Vaarda gate, disappointed that no Demons remained.

Senuro, Heishan, Estalar, Silver, Astalia, Revna, Tarlok, Tehgren, Xorakk (who was still bruised) and Enheduanna showed up later, mounted on Wyverns to scout the territory, finding themselves quickly under fire from the Nordskag sentries and Mages, as no ahead warning had been given that an airforce would breach the airspace of such a highly militarized country. The group instead opted to go above the clouds which gave them more cover and hide from the Nordskag military, but seriously damaged their ability to see anything. Regardless, they confirmed the same as the previous group: No Demons in sight, just a single Marken making circles around the Vaarda gate.

Tryllelande
Morgana de Azcoissia attempted to investigate the Foreign Minister's Steel Dawn Decree, but could not produce any real leads to go off. The situation, as it stood, was that supposedly, there were two copies of the same decree, one still owned by the Foreign Minister, and one now in the hands of the Tryllelande Regency Council, which there was no way of getting it. Short of a confession of the Foreign Ministry, if this whole accusation was true, there was likely no way to prove it.

Regalian Archipelago
Reynard Benac traveled to see Cordenia at Draackenrust, which had meanwhile been turned into a formidable mountainside fortress armed to the teeth with Isldar soldiers, and vast towers structured like honey combs housing dozens if not hundreds of Wyverns. At the very top of one of the largest towers, Reynard could see a large purple dragon, surrounded by three very small ones circling overhead, and was later told that the matron was up there. Having walked over a thousand steps up to the crystal hall, he was eventually allowed to see the matron, whom he handed a letter of recommendation, which she seemed disinterested in, folding away and somewhere out of sight, though she still heard him out. Reynard's request to have his memories cleansed were declined, she remarked that there was no reason to do this aside from his intentions to interfere with Draconic sites, and unless his motivation was clear, she would not grant permission to do so. Her opinion on the Vaarda gates was to "wait and see", or so it was told to her by Regulus. She was also asked how she felt about Barratt and said she "did not care". Finally the question about Mutations, to which she replied that yes, mutations mark the soul, and that she believed Reynard's intentions had already been impure from the very start, because that question would underpin how his aesthetic appearance mattered more to him than genuine purity, for if someone's intention was pure, they would have already gotten their vile mutations cleansed before offending the matron with their sight (how she could see through his eyepatch, escaped him). With that, Reynard was dismissed, with the remark that the cleansing could be done remotely, but would not consider it until Reynard's intentions and motives were in the right place.

Èriu-Innis
Lady Saalamun and Lady Vasnaf, the duo commanders of the Medes Corsair fleet of Asha (only loosely connected to Regalia, a sovereign independent entity but supported by pro-Regalian Ashal States) invades Èriu-Innis in full force, instead of the mere coastal raiding they have done in the past months, sending a full land army of Asha and their Living Metal War machines. The Blue Moon Society and local Allorn soldiers become completely overrun by the massive military force that invades the island, and they quickly retreat away from an untenable position. The Medes Corsair Fleet declares the island chain "liberated", and immediately begins installing a device called "Kheper", a huge scarab-like Living Metal construct that starts ripping up the land and digging into the soil on a scale not seen before, wiping out Old Gods shrines and forest groves as it mows down trees, much to the anguish of the locals who say their homeland is being defiled by wicked technologies, praying to the Old Gods for release.

Drowda
The Sihndar signal Regalia that a massive Demon host has descended on Drowda, with unclear motives. Zarak's most eastern province was landfall, but the Demon host has also been witnessed in Tazman. The Sihndar report that both the local Demons belonging to these Greater Demons, and the Demon host coming from the sky are battling each other, and the Sihndar at the same time. The Sihndar signal concern, as much of what made the Greater Demons manageable, was the fact that they competed with one another. They suspect this Demon host has come to try and subject the Greater Demons and form one large Demon host. The Sihndar request military reinforcements from Regalia for this unprecedented situation, not to send peacemeal small groups of adventurers without serious military backing.

South Seas
Explorers on their way to Justinia report a large "Demon Host", flying overhead their exploration vessel in the navigational direction of Valadia.

Dexai
Scribes from Dexai reach into the world beyond with a "Grand Recall" order to all adventurers, pilgrims and colonists, for the Jade Wall is under attack on all tower levels. The Akula have risen from the deeps far sooner than anticipated, and than the White Dreamers, or the Oracles, or even the Dragons had predicted in their slumber. More and more sections of the Jade Wall are spontaneously rupturing, spouting ocean water onto the Jade Sea beyond, causing great panic in the Zhong Kingdoms. Worse yet, the Akula are assisted by "Sentient beings from the sky", or rather, according to the scriptures, seem to be "spurred on", by them. A hot debate erupts in Regalia, with many migrants pouring back to Dexai to answer the call to arms, but many also stay in Regalia, showing an underbelly of Sihai who have long abandoned the duty to the homeland, and actually become acclimated around Regalia's native concerns.

Princedoms of Osciird
The Suvial-Kathar-Allorn threeway war seems to intensify in the Princedoms of the Osciird. Armed with their mobile shrines, the Suvial are ripping the Allorn a new one, and the Kathar seem to mostly be sitting back while the Suvial do the hard work, not losing a single soldier in the process. A hot debate is initiated in the Allorn Empire, which spreads out to other countries, one that argues for the expulsion of Avinla from the Estellon pantheon, as Avinla's followers are clearly committing violence and harm against the cause of Talea and the Allorn Empire.

Methenwÿaal
News is extremely hard to come by from Methenwÿaal, but Amontaar dignitaries (spies) seem to indicate that the country is under assault by a large host of Demons, focused on their capital of Missalond. Amontaar dignitaries (not Allorn dignitaries) seem to know why this is happening, and what the status is, as Methenwÿaal is not aligned with the Allorn Empire, fiercely independent, and the only country that is realy hard to get into from land, because they employ magic barriers to keep foreigners out.

Kintyr
A Doomsday book panic sets in in Kintyr, with many of the Unionist Celates claiming to have received visions from Caan and Elen about the seals of the Doomsday prediction breaking. They seem to have an answer for most predictions, including the one about the flesh being, some entity of amalgamated flesh being spotted in Nordskag, and battling Caan in Farah'deen, save for the predictions about Eagles and the Scaled Beast with the blood soaked crown. There is a growing concern that the Aelrrigans have been unable to stop the Doomsday prophesy, and that the world is two steps (eagles and bloody crowned scaled beasts) away from total apocalypse.