In full honesty, we are seeing that this war is becoming very detrimental to both of us. Countless lives have been lost, both soldier and civilian. The end of this war for either side is nowhere in sight either. If either of us seeks to bring this war to a conclusion through conquest, it will involve a long bloody struggle in which one of us gradually wears his opponent down through a war of attrition. It will very likely be a pyrrhic victory. While we continue slaughtering each other in a race to the bottom, are opponents are growing stronger.

Schleswig-Holstein is aggressively settling the Scandinavian peninsula that should have been one of ours. Their population is growing through the roof while we are both suffering heavy losses. Poland cannot last much longer, and once Poland is gone I have no doubt the Schleswig-Holstein will turn their gaze to us, weakened by centuries of war. They might promise peace, but we should realize that such promises are quite likely calculated to convince us to continue fighting each other, breaking each other down for them to roll over all the more easily. Their interest the sphere of influence we are battling over is evidenced by their settlements. I have no doubt they will jump at the opportunity to wipe up one or even both of us in a weakened state.

Finland is, while a less immediate threat, by no means an absent one. The Finns have also shown interest in settling our land mass, and have even built a bridge of island cities across the sea. These cities allow the Finns a strategic line of access to eastern Sweden, from which they can reinforce their holdings and expand further into unsettled lands - lands that *we* should have settled. It is quite possible that should Schleswig-Holstein attack, Finland might join in on a dual front war that in our divided and weakened state we would stand no chance against.

Finally Lithuania stands victorious over Novgorod, with a vast amount of land under their control. While Lithuania does not border us, they are immensely powerful and will only continue growing in strength as they make use of their conquests. They may not be a threat now, but if we somehow manage to survive Schleswig-Holstein and Finland in our war-ravaged state, there is absolutely no way we could ever dream of standing up to the Lithuanian storm that will one day in the far future arrive on our shores.

In short, our enemies are strong and our enemies are many. Yet we are weak and we are alone. If there is one thing I believe are enemies are not, or ought not to be, it is each other. We have far greater threats to be dealt with than each other. I have no doubt that there is a history between us that draws out feelings of hostility. You have slaughtered our people, and we have slaughtered yours. This bloody crime is difficult to forgive, and perhaps it never can be forgiven. But if we cannot forgive each other of our past offenses, offenses I would argue are equal on both sides, we must at the very least set them aside for the moment. A storm is coming to our shores unlike any seen in this present war. If we band together, or at the very least cease our hostilities, we might possibly stand a chance to hold strong against the torrent that shall seek to destroy us, hold fast as a might pillar of stone that weathers the stone and comes out victorious. If we draw up our common viking blood and go raging into this storm with full force and might, we might possibly prevail. And if we do prevail, *then*, and only then, is the time to settle our differences. While these may be many, we must reflect on the fact that they are minor in comparison to the differences between us and those who shall soon arrive on our shores. We are fundamentally Scandinavians, and we share together a common homeland. A home we may be currently fighting over, but a home that is about to be invaded by foreign conquerors - and a house divided will not stand. Divide and conquer is the plan of our enemies. We must not be divided, and we must not be conquered.

There are three possible paths forward. First, we continue fighting as we have, each side hoping that he will be the victor. This can only lead to massive loss of life, very likely culminating in the invasion and subjugation of both of us by a foreign power.

Second, we make call a ceasefire, signing a peace treaty that allows us to repair our damaged kingdoms and prepare to repel the invading forces. This will be more successful than continuing war, but it too is likely doomed to failure. While we would benefit from not having the division of war, we would still not be fully united, which would inhibit our success in defending our common motherland.

This leads us to the third option. It is the most radical and most daring option of them all. In some ways it requires the greatest sacrifices, for it requires soldiers who once killed each other to become brothers. But if we can pull it off through our pure Nordic force of will, it carries the greatest chance of success. The third option is to unite together fully in a Scandinavian Union, to act as one empire, as one people, defending one motherland. We are willing to enter into such a union, and to give the Geatish people equal power in it. We are very serious about this. If we seek to take this option, we must undertake careful deliberation and negotiation to ensure our kingdoms are fully equal in all political, diplomatic, and legal manners. We are willing to undertake such deliberation, not only for the benefit of Norway but for the benefit of Scandinavia as a whole.

Now the question is, what option do the Geats seek to take? We shall meet you in any of these. If you desire war you shall have war. If you desire peace you shall have peace. If you desire unity you shall have unity. The future of Scandinavia rests in your hands. We await your decision.