The War Court

The aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars has cleared, revealing a Vienna system that, once a harbinger of European peace, now bears evident weaknesses. Beneath an illusion of serenity lies a maelstrom of contemporary forces, a calm preceding an impending storm. The atmosphere is thick with the mist of perspiration, and the acrid black smoke lingers, making breathing a challenge. Around the refined dining table, a mixture of soldiers and corpulent men in suits jostle for position, indulging in the banquet. Van Gogh's self-portrait adorns the wall, overseeing the revelry with a waltz in the ears. Suddenly, the music transitions into a march, and the scene transforms into a battlefield. Soldiers move in precise formation, advancing toward the machine gun and barbed wire. A shell collides with the ground, and as the smoke dissipates, a multitude of cavalry charges toward the artillery position.