Welcome back to Our Brave Boys, a quest that is more about worldbuilding (or loredumping) but also a somewhat light RP setting. You are all young men of 20 years of age and are part of the Nation's Apprenticeship Required for Male Youths, otherwise known as ARMY. The Nation is one of many countries of the Empire, but after decades of suppressing Republican Revolutions, the Nation emerged as the leading faction championing the Monarchy, placing the late Princess of your Nation on the throne as Eternal Empress.The Nation has a mandatory conscription policy for all young men, who must serve for 5 years after conscription at 20 years of age. Nearly a year has passed since the quest has started, although new boys are welcome. You might want to skim through the archive to understand the lore.To get conscripted, please take a look at the instructions in the first thread: https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2025/6220569/I used to write up a short story from every post, but it's been getting difficult for me to keep up. Maybe it's because they're more thoughtful than my previous projects so it's difficult for me to add anything significant to your posts, but I am always happy to read your characters' thoughts. This thread is a good example of what I've done before: https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2021/78944717/
***SUMMARY***You are members of Legion XXI, 41st Artillery Cohort, Battery Green. The previous thread had every new join become a part of Section 1, although additional overflow may be put into Section 2.Legion XXI is deployed to Japmi, a loyalist kingdom within the Empire. As part of your ARMY duties, you also work as machinists in factories to manufacture artillery guns for the rest of the army. This skill is designed to help you find employment when you return home, as well as keep you productive in an otherwise peaceful time despite the Nation putting all their young men in the Army.As young men and women are separated for a great part of their lives, the Nation is supporting the Matchmaking Assistance Initiative for Damsels, otherwise known as MAID, to help introduce young men and women to each other to begin correspondence so that they can marry once the young men return from the ARMY.The artillery units of Legion XXI participated in a Crew Competition, and after weeks of grueling training, the crews of Section 1 ultimately lost the first place but tied for 2nd.A Kingdom in the South has been falling into instability with Pro-Republican sentiments, and fearing another wave of Republican Revolutions, Legion XXI has been ordered to deploy to the South to relieve the current garrison in the Winter. Before deployment, you have all been authorized two weeks of leave back home.
>It's difficult to control so many young men out of uniform and command was starting to think this was a mistake. While most of you participated in fun activities such as game stalls and eating street food, as well as attending local music and dance, some of the more heinous young men decided no uniform meant no discipline and got a bit too liberal with their drinking. Some of the more disciplined of you decided to take it upon yourself to retrain the hooligans, lucky that they were too inebriated to put up a fight. Just sitting on them was enough until local patrols could snatch them up and throw them into jail and embarrass their commanders the next morning. Despising alcoholics, >>6253994 Kiro took it upon himself to knock the lights out from three of your peers, which worsened his mood as he had less time to enjoy the festivities, which was well enough because it made him break the high striker game, earning him a big stuffed moose plushie.>Instead of a written letter, Mino Miri has sent >>6253987 Nezu a pop-up book she crafted herself, illustrating a folktale from her hometown, which typically involves heroes of diverse get-ups and weapons getting roped into a convoluted plot, usually centered around some tree. Perhaps it's just a way for her to talk about herself without saying anything.>Summer passed with more labor and training, and more rumors of a deployment to the Southern Principality. That rumor was confirmed during a Legion-wide formation with General Reigen Mugen."Gentlemen, orders from the Sovereign-Marshal. The situation in the Southern Principality is escalating. We don't know what will happen, but we know what can happen. SovMar has authorized the deployment of one Legion across the sea as deterrence. Lucky us, we are scheduled for deployment during the winter, much cooler. For pre-deployment, you are all authorized two weeks of leave. Submit your requests early. Dismissed."
>>6258780>The news was received with mixed feelings; excitement, dread, uncertainty. However, there was one piece of news everybody received well; two weeks of leave during Autumn, the most sacred season of the Nation. Even better, this could be the first time you meet up with your match for the first time, to truly get to know her. In preparation for deployment, you all already began maintaining your gear and prepping them for staging as soon as you return from leave. This took a few weeks, which also had training and labor on top of all that. On the day of the start of your pre-deployment leave, you weren't simply cut, instead command practically ordered you to get ready to go home, inspecting everybody's luggage and having them stacked on the platform. The Legion had already bought a whole train for this movement, although you all were responsible for arranging pickup at Sleepy Waters. Some of you are having your families meet you, others would simply just take ferries or more trains home. For some of you, you might have asked your match to meet you at Sleepy Waters.Let's see what your characters have planned for leave!
Hell yeah, new thread! I was worrying a little once it fell off the board.>>6258780"Damn boozeheads, wastin' my time...at least I got this moose thing. Girls like this kinda stuff, right?">Though he's no teetotaler, Kiro's childhood in a town firmly under the grip of the booze industry has left him with a distaste for the 'weakness' brought by drunkenness - perhaps the one of the few things he can agree with his parents on. >>6258781"Hmph, maybe we'll finally get to see some damn action, huh? You momma's boys can go visit your family or whatever, I'm checking up on my match.">Having no taste for whatever lecture he was certain his parents would give him to 'keep up the good behavior', Kiro decides he'll take the opportunity to meet with his match, Korozi Kozoki.
Rolled 48, 93, 42 = 183 (3d100)
>>6258937...Wrong thread?
>>6258780>Nezu's eyes widen when he opens the book and sees the figures pop out. This is something new to him, and the quality of the artwork and intricacy of the pieces is inspiring. In private, he often slowly flips through it, shifting pages back and forth to properly appreciate how they pop. Equally nervous about talking about himself, he decides to "write" her back the same way, with an illustrated tale. Unable to figure out how to replicate the feat of engineering, he settles for replicating the local Japmi picture-books he's been reading with Waro Namaro, beginning with a tale of a nameless drifter with a high, flat-topped haircut dealing rough justice to a band of drunken hooligans...Any resemblance between these fictional characters and events and real individuals being entirely coincidental, of course>He ends it with a tale of this strange drifter being called upon by the fictional village headman to join a band of warriors who must defend a tree against disrespectful raiders from "The South", and send s off what he's managed so far. He hopes the next chapter might include a quiet young man with a keen eye and steady hand doing something impressive and story-worthy...
>>6258781>Let's see what your characters have planned for leave!>>6259047 takes up much of Nezu's leave, such that he doesn't have time to go home (or to meet Mino Miri)
>>6258781>Its his first leave, and his cousins will be joining him in it>On the way by train he supposes they will be discussing the deployment to the Southern Principality and what he thinks will be the reason for it>After which he should be free to begin the mostly chaste courting of miss Pita>Mostly it turns out that everyone had asked their matches to meet up in Sleepy Waters>The whole discussion turns to the matter of exchanging information on how their dates should go and to go where>A whole rotation of exchanging and calling in favors, with a few promises along the way and Caspar secures a nice spot in one of the lakeside inns Sleepy Waters is known for>They will be going in a group of five to watch their backs and cover their... slight indiscretions>This is his moment, he must not fumble this bag, because if everything goes according to plan>He and his cousins will be holding girls hands over these two weeks as much as they can
>>6258781>You know, being away really highlights why I wanted to leave to begin with. This place blows!Naro steps off the train at Da Hoi, hiking the three miles up the mountain past the rumbling coal conveyors to his hometown. It's a strange feeling, a sort of relief at being home and happiness to see his family and younger friends, but at the same time it's a sad feeling to know he's leaving the orbit of his hometown, and it's for the better. After a few days, he's more than ready to leave.>I've still got over a week to burn......hm. I think I know where to go.....Before long, he's thumbing a lift aboard the next coal train to the Capital, the distant destination he has heard of many times but never seen. Naro has never been to a large city before and is fascinated by the concept, wanting to see the supposedly grand city for himself. He spends the next days seeing the sights of the Capital, marvelling at the architecture and history while sighing at the familiar slums and smoking chimneys. While he enjoyed playing tourist, he knows this place won't be home either. He takes almost being mugged for his remaining money after a wrong turning as the cue to return (with a stack of new books and comics, of course).All of this leaves him with a key question weighing on his mind - where will he belong? He continues to write to Shina, hoping she can help him answer that question and proposes they help bring some kind of production to Dak-Dai next leave. It needs it, he thinks.
>>6258817>Kiro was hesitant to return home for leave, but that was where Korozi would be staying, at least for a few more weeks. He even brought that moose plushie for her, and while the gesture was cute, the couple didn't look that cute together. One could only wonder how they felt underneath those perpetual scowls.
>>6259050>This idiot was found in Sleepy Waters overstaying his welcome, so much that some officers came to check up on him if he even had family to go home to. The village that raised Nezu was given the news, where Mino was staying at the time. She decided to come herself to talk to Nezu directly."U-um... was I not pretty enough for you??">It seemed Mino has been growing her hair out to be more feminine, even if she didn't know how to style it, covering her mouth with her hand the whole time as to not expose her large front teeth, and had since gotten rid of her glasses even if it made her more clumsy. The officer that helped her find Nezu told him to go make actual memories with her.
>>6259212>As soon as Caspar stepped off the train in Sleepy Waters, he was greeted by a horde of big eared shorties led by Pina Pita herself. She had brought her whole family to meet you, having never understood she was supposed to come alone. There will be no discreet handholding this leave, not especially with Pina Pita's venerable popappy around.
>>6260771>It's such a shame that not everybody could visit the Capital as children anymore. Naro was not used to the customs of the big city, in his hometown, people barely exchanged cash, mostly leaving each other a solid, a valuable currency in the countryside. It's why he mistook himself as the victim of a mugging. The buildings were also so dense with so many people living close to each other, and with such busy streets, it was difficult Naro to grasp that people could even live like this. It didn't help that this was the Autumn, the most sacred season of the Nation, and when the Salmon Run occurs where children from across the Country come visit with their families to experience it for the first time, an ancient custom. Naro never got the opportunity to see the Salmon Run in the city, so as it was happening, many children climbed on top of him and heckled him to get closer, as if he was their older brother or cousin. This sort of demand from little ones was still familiar to Naro, but as he never witnessed the Salmon Run here, he had difficulty navigating for the rambunctious little ones.
>>6261481sweet, art and a mention>>Mission failed... we'll get them next time>Well... we should have known>These dutiful servants, the branch and root scions of the great tree of the nation, watered by the blood of martyrs and heroes>Have been utterly foiled, confounded and bamboozled >Shit not just one, but nearly all of the matches brought their whole household trekking all the way here!>Oh damn oh fuck how are we housing all these people, are there enough inns here for everyone?One more huddle session of tactical and strategic planning of logistics later>All the held back favors and liquid assets were pooled together with some loans for the completion of this counter attack>Operation Field Day Jamboree>first step, bullshit every male relative into camping outside as part of our "off duty training"where we let the boys rough it around as this town lets it>advance training for apprenticeship we will say>second step we, as the upstanding most gentlemen in her Majesties service, reserve rooms for all the females>third step is basically altering the previous plans from a more intimate setting into a three day sightseeing trip to the whole family>some drew the long stick with their matches bringing along just their parents and some drew the short one stuck with more than they can handle >I drew the long one>so I am now paddling along on a rather long boat>one set of oars are handled by Pina's brother >the big one meant for paddling and steering is mine to bear>with little ladies and an older couple barraging me with a myriad of questions
>>6261481>>6261506>"What do you do in the army sonny?>I handle the ammunitions for the field guns sir, the new ones >"How do you know Baba Denna?">She is one of my teachers when I was younger>"Who were those young men with you mister?">My cousins ma'am, all enlisted on their leave as I am >"You were planning something with my sister sending her that letter were yah?!">As law and custom abiding servants of the nation, we know far better than to stray from our duty >"How many babies will you and sister make?">the sight of her ears could now be mistaken for apples >aaahhhh.... at least just bring your mother or baba to chaperone>with that you could leave your brother behind >shouldn't a guy like that be employed anyways, doesn't he have a job to get to?>"Tha-tha-">That is by the blessing of our Empress above>"We can make ten!">I am the nation's strongest soldier>I am the arm of vengeance of the ghosts killed by the Grand Republic Army>I am of the blood of the Counter Revolutionists they could not kill>I am the son of those who came back from up North>My face should not turn red >I don't care no more what is happening down South >I am marrying this girl and if anything down there is stopping me from doing that>They will suffer, simple as>"No no aaaaahhhhh">I will endeavor to return your affections Miss Pina>"Am... am I alright to you?">More enough for a lout like me>"My ears aren't big right">Your ears are fine Miss Pina>"Touch her!">"You oughta keep your hands to yourself pal!">So far the operation is proceeding smoothly on my end>We, the armies lay-abouts will achieve the objective of being seen as no longer boys, but men who can make a family>And by the end of the three days leave, we swear we can get everything dancing in the no touch bonfire caracole
>>6261479Wait, I don't get it, is Kiro at sleepy waters or in his hometown?I'm asking so I can do a semi-lengthy "blurb" about their meeting, and how it transpired. It felt appropriate.
>>6261594Home. I know your character didn't care much about that but Korozi was back in your hometown anyway.
>>6261639No, that makes sense. I just needed it to write the setpiece
>>6261479>When he first saw her, it was alongside a dirt road not too far from the train station. She was walking towards the city center, where they had agreed to meet, and passed by some other girls he recognized being from the town. Before he could even notice it, one of the girls suddenly tripped, falling face first into a muddy pool of water. The screaming that followed felt worse than putting your ear right next to one of the cannons. Korozi was the first to help her, of course, kneeling and helping the dirtied girl up. Though he could not her it, whatever she said seemed to disarm them. As the girls began to leave with their now mud-caked friend, she continued to another direction...spotting Kiro, and quickly walking towards him.>The two besides each other, neither seemed to say anything at first. Kiro could swear it was like she was studying him, analyising. Before the silence continued, he spoke out."So..that girl who tripped, huh?">The faint smile that she gave told him everything he needed to know, and he could no help but feel a bit warmer by it. Trying to quash whatever that feeling was, Kiro quickly extended the moose."I got it at some fair game. Girls like this stuff, right?">"Is that so...? I think I heard about these animals once. Did you know they're more dangerous than bears? Thank you, Kiro-san. I'll be sure to use it to hide things">It got stronger.>With the two finally face to face, Kiro and Korozi continue their walk towards the city center. Without any grown-ups watching, the two begin to talk, with the girl wasting no time to unload a mountain of complaints about the 'strictness' of her duties as a "young woman" and the "lameness" of the other girls who accompanied her. Though ready to offer some complaints about the army life of his own, the existence of a girl as 'improper' as her seemed almost impossible to him. >When they arrived in the town center, they were quickly greeted by a sight he'd rather have avoided..his family. When he tried to look for an explanation, she had already put her "scowl" back, and was greeting them "properly".>Kiro's parents wasted no time with a warm welcome, his mother embracing him in a tight hug and his father shaking his hand, talking about how good it was to see him "properly dressed. Just as he had expected, they wasted no time to congratulate him on his progress in the "journey" and "not being sent home in chains" >Worst of all was the teasing about Korozi, his family being quick to ask her to" ensure he didn't cross any lines" or compliment her on how polite she had been. Kozoki, on her part, played the role of an "kind yet strict" young lady. When she started to talk about how she'd "keep him on the straight", though, Kiro began to get annoyed. If she wanted to act, he'd give her a challenge!
>>6261480Nezu was, of course, stunned. Being popular with the other girls who weren't so serious about their flirting had done little to prepare him for this: someone shy and cute. He presented his gift wordlessly, and then, at his officers' command and with hammering heart, showed her all his favourite spots, and the page they matched to, and told her of what he'd learned and seen while he was here. He asked her what her favorite location in Sleepy Waters was. On the day she left he presented her with a picture of herself there, looking quite appropriately pretty, and promised t come see the pales which inspired her, next time he got to take his leave.>>6261479>>6261481kek>>6261482Cute!
>>6261685[WARNING FOR ABSOLUTELY, EXTREMELY SCANDALOUS BEHAVIOR]>Approaching the side she had been using to hold the moose, Kiro sneaked his hand towards hers..before grasping her hand! Let her try to play the prim and proper like that - he could already feel her almost recoil in surprise.>Despite his "prank" however, Kozoki did not waver, keeping her cool as she continued to introduce herself. Kiro, meanwhile, continued on, holding her hand tightly even at the risk of being caught - but her performance did not fail, even when he further pushed his fingers, interlacing them into hers. >Alas, despite his wishes, Kiro's family remained ignorant to the utterly scandalous actions going on before then, even as they began to walk. When they finally reached his house, they waved off the two, sending them on their way to "enjoy the festival">The moment they were out of sight and alone again, Korozi was quick to unlatch their hands, giving the boy a scowl.>"Do you know what would have happened if they found us out? It might not be illegal, but if people though I'd handhold a boy the first time I met him...""You didn't stop me, though, did you?" replied Kiro, smugly.>"...Hmph!" she replied, not quite dropping her scowl. After a moment, though, some idea seemed to creep into her head. Looking around the street around them, she seemed to check for something, though Kiro wasn't sure what. Then, before he could react, she grabbed the boy by the collar and...>...>When the leave was finally over and he was back on the train heading to the train, several other boys who shared his coach were talking about what they had done - and particularly, about having finally met their matches. Eventually, one of them asked him how his meeting went."Huh? Yeah, she wasn't too annoying, I guess.">As much as he'd like to brag, Kiro was smart enough to not tell them. He would take the story of his first kiss to the grave.
>After two weeks of leaves, you all mustered at Sleepy Waters to return to Japmi. Most of you returned with less things, leaving some things at home or with someone else, such as a giant stuffed moose. At the brief, General Reigen Mugen welcomed you back and hoped none of you broke any laws of the Nation such as kissing girls before you're 25 but was otherwise happy to see you all return. You all said your goodbyes once again to any family who showed up to see you off, and when you men were finally in your suits, some of you secretly confessed you kissed a lady, while most were just happy to hold hands with one.>The return to Japmi was a short one, there was no time for rest. You had only two days to complete loading the whole Legion's property onto an armored train, moving from the factory compound to the railyard throughout the day. Not only that, but you also had to make sure the whole compound that the Legion was assigned to and benefited from; the barracks and headquarters office of course, but even the factories, mess hall, and cantina that you shared with other legions, as custom of the Nation's spiritual observation in leaving places nicer than you arrived. On the second night, when you were finally done, your barracks empty, you all filed inside your designated carts, this time with your weapons and in the labor uniform. It was far more cramped than when you first left Sleepy Waters almost half a year ago. The train didn't move for hours and most of you just fell asleep until Lieutenant Shino Nozo called for everybody to roger up. You called your names out to your billet leader, who rogered up to your crew leader, giving section 1 the good to go. Within ten minutes, the train started moving, heading down south to the desert.>Except it wasn't going to the desert. It was returning straight back to the Country. By noon the train was already driving past by Sleepy Waters, exactly where you saw many of your families off. Some of you grumbled about the waste of time, but then again, you did have to make farewells to your host in Japmi. And this was a good time to see your Country one last time before going far, far away. Looking to the south, you saw a patchwork of farmland and woodland dominated by overlooking belltowers at the center of every village. Very few factories existed beyond the ones close to the capital. Once call the Great Swamp, much of the land had been drained, the great waters that poured in from the World Above regulated to stone waterways where people continue to use to travel on rafts. Wherever you saw a hill you also saw terrace farms, mostly for rice, although many of you who lived higher in the mountains recognize terrace farms as being meant for potatoes. As it was in the middle of Autumn, you saw many outside harvesting rice in the shallow paddies.
>>6264901>Nezu doesn't speak much of what happened on his break, but he does seem more and more engrossed in his new hobby of art, including sketching his fellow recruits, and the countryside. A particular female character with long, stripey hair, glasses, and somewhat mousy teeth sometimes finds her way into the landscapes. Those are the ones he plans to send with his next letter, and guards fiercely from those who peak over his shoulder. The new hobby doesn't make him any more sociable, but he's more aware of his surroundings, and spends more time around the other boys for references.
>Unhappy with being penned in so close along with so much stuff, Naro decides to get air. Spending much of his time on the carriage's end platform, he's content to just watch the world slide by. He's starting to enjoy travelling for what it's worth, seeing the sights and sounds and people of the Nation and beyond.>He does try and sit on the carriage roof for a while, given the lack of any seats on the end platform. A close encounter with a low tunnel serves as a convincing argument against doing this, and he wanders off to wash the soot from his face.
>>6258777>>6264901>Ichigo had longed to be back again from his trip back home. He disliked his dad's stern words of reprimand. He at least loved the little snack his mom made before he left.>When the train quiets down at night, Ichigo remembers at least one fun encounter he had back at home. Seeing Kiki was fun, as she was as energetic as always. Perhaps he could hope to one day make her his. As he dreams of him and Kiki, he shakes his head. "No time to think of girls, Ichiro! Not until we make it!"Sorry guys, was away for a long bit, had to deal with IRL stuff
>>6264901>In the following days that they travel in the train, Kiro seems to be in an oddly good mood, being far less quick to dole out threats of beatings to his colleagues and sneering less at their comments. "I wonder if we'll get to see some action. That'd be pretty cool, huh?"I hope my "date" write-up from before wasn't too cringeworthy.
>>6266509What is boyhood for, if not for being a little cringe?
>After arriving in Banana Bay, they had to do the hard work of unloading the Legion's heavy equipment as well as loading them back onto ships. Some wondered why Legion XXI was tasked with deployment in the south when a closer legion would have made more sense.>A small fleet carried the legion down the coast and looping around a peninsula. Some suffered from seasickness, though the food wasn't that bad, there was a larger variety of seafood on ship than there ever was in Japmi. You were told that there was nothing to eat at your destination, and that everything had to be transported there instead, meaning you might have more seafood to enjoy despite being in the middle of a desert.>Nevertheless, the sea journey took a few days before finally reaching the Red Temple, once a religous monastery dedicated to cultivating what little life could grow here for the sake of conquering the environment. As it was across the bay from the Southern Principality, it served as a useful resupply point for Imperial fleets. The Red Temple couldn't support a community of any kind, so it is strictly operated by military forces with a regular resupply.>The Red Temple couldn't support too much personnel, and it was never meant to be a permanent posting. It is often cycled through between different legions, sometimes from the Nation, sometimes from the other states of the Empire.>Arriving in the Red Temple, you found the climate to be pleasant. Not too cold nor not too hot. You were warned that the summer will become unbearable, so hopefully nothing happens until you leave. The buildings looked shoddy, but at least the cots are firm. The mess hall was mostly just pitched tents, thought it had a nice view of the bay. The Southern Principality was too far for you to see on the horizon.>Your time at the Red Temple was mostly being on stand by, although regular maintenance and training supplemented the boredom, command really wanted you to be as ready as you could be if an intervention was needed. Otherwise you found yourself throwing rocks at sticks.>>6266509It was too horny
>>6270205>Nezu initially finds little inspiration in the desolate local vista, but eventually begins sketching a series of little adventures about a band of suspiciously familiar looking heroic warriors based in an oddly well-referenced temple/castle, journeying out to rescue a slightly-bucktoothed princess of a wholly fictional country from villains. Now his only problem is how to draw the villains... He keeps getting stuck on that point.
>>6270205>Naro is going nuts. He's run out of comics, there's squat all to do and there's only so many times you can check, re-check and re-re-check your equipment before it made you want to pull your hair out. He gets so desperate for something, anything to do that he liberates a shovel from the equipment stores and begins digging a hole near the camp as exercise and activity. Day after day, it gets larger and larger.
>>6270205>Though his usual response in such a boring assignment would have been to pick fights with whoever he was able to, Kiro felt as though he had done plenty of that for now! Even he got bored of doing the same thing all the time. >Instead, he decided that if he was to waste his time, he'd be working on his body! Although the army gave them plenty of exercise, he'd not let his superior physique grind away. He'd lift heavy objects, run around the tracks, and generally use whatever equipment he could get his hands on>He still felt a bit bored, though...
>>6270205>The trash is the only thing keeping Ichigo from going mad of boredom. He tinkers with some of the trash he found around the Temple. Perhaps he can think of some great machine to make.>He sighs. At least he can check up on the guns.
>>6272721>>6272226>>6272221>Nezu considers trying to work something into his illustrations about a the heroes being a band of hotblooded, highly-physical diggers using scrap technology... But no, that would be silly.
>>6272724>Sneaking a look over his shoulder, Naro considers. Who says they need to stay on the surface - aren't there old myths of the world being hollow? Whether they're true or not, imagine the sort of crazy adventure it would be to try and go to its centre and see what lies inside. He'd be up for it! He might need a bigger shovel though.
>>6273192>Nezu stops, looking thoughtful, and immediately flips over a page to start sketching something new...
>>6270598>>6272221>>6272226>There was just sand out here. And whatever trash Ichigo could find. You began seeing things in the desert. It couldn't be dehydration though...>You all begin playing out delusional fantasies out in the desert... it started with digging holes, then making up personas. You fashioned random equipment from random bits of trash and scrap. You all bugged Ichigo to make you something. Kiro had chained himself to a giant boulder to drag, and you all started calling him the "Punished Titan". Some of you tried to liberate him which only made him angrier. The quest shifted from liberating the Punished Titan to keeping the Imprisoned Titan from escaping. Every day you all tried getting Kiro into the hole.>At first your older brothers frowned on such behavior. Among the Nation, it's very normal for the youth to have hyperactive imaginations that feed into the lore of children, taking up personas within a parallel fantasy world of the country. Such behavior is meant to stop once you become an adult, but it's okay to be a child sometimes. Rento Renma mentioned he once, as a child, brought home a rusty horseshoe claiming it was a relic of the hero "Rushpower Tenka" from five centuries ago. His pappy laughed and said he was Rushpower Tenka when he was a child. Rento Renma didn't believe him until his little nieces and nephews mentioned a villain named "Saber Toma" that has returned from fifty years ago. It broke his heart learning he became a villain in the lore of children.
>>6275402Based story-within-a-story metacanon confirmed.
>>6275412The Lore of Children is the foundation of the Nation's indigenous mythologies.
>>6275402>He marched against the walls of the pit, feet digging into the sand. They had dug deeper than before, but it was no matter. The chains he dragged gave him power, the burdensome rock lifted him from the weight of mortal weaklings. He would be out soon."I am the fucking strong", yelled the Titan, to no one in particular.
>>6275402>The sweat on his brow. The tingling of his fingers. The sounds of metal banging against metal. His teammates nagging his ears off for tools and thingamagics.>Ichigo is having the time of his life.
>>6275402There is nothing so creative and chaotic as a bored soldier.>From somewhere, Naro had rustled up the rusty steel lid of an old waste bin and a large tin bucket. Wearing his helmet with his longsword and buckler, he felt invincible. He would make sure the Titan would never get past him!>He was writing all of this down, of course.
>This world you returned to lasted for several weeks before abruptly ending. One calm evening when you should be back in your cot instead of fumbling about, you were living in your delusions at the beach when you saw a boat from the horizon. Perhaps due to a combination of dehydration and being way too immersed in your fantasy worlds, you assumed this boat was part of some clever and creative way to introduce a new element to your little games.>Whoever came off that boat really outdid themselves, their costumings looked like the real deal rather than jury-rigging random scraps together. After beaching their boat and disembarking, you were greeted by someone speaking an archaic language that hardly any of you spoke, though it reminds you greatly of the many prayers you passingly heard your grandparents sent in your youths. Aside from the heavily armed escort the speaker had, you all felt obliged to render obeisance with bows.>To the few of you who understood:"We are the Heir of the South. Our city has fallen. Will these hosts take us to their leaders?">Some of you knew very well this sort of speech pattern was reminiscent to the many period dramas spoken at the Imperial court.
>>6282394Uh oh. We'd better get the higher-ups.
>>6282394"...Anybody...know what this guy is saying? He looks important."Kiro feels like this sort of man probably wouldn't have been visiting them unless someone or something had fucked something up.
>>6282394Never did Caspar think the rote repetition of calligraphy and recitation of old classics would be useful save to learn and study the ancient history to satisfy the whims of the elders.No proper gentleman should not go without learning how to speak the proper tongue they say, this is the way it has been and will continue to be so long as we perform our duty to the nation, so most boys like him know the old prayers and know most the lines in the old theatre plays.Based on said old theatre plays he can infer that nobles like this usually have some token of identification on hand to prove their authenticity.So in a barely passable rendition Caspar quotes a line from the old plays. >"Halt! Present your token, lest you be a mere charlatan and not a prince of the blood."That's how it goes right? Better safe than sorry and not bother the officers with a more convincing mummers farce than the one before it
>>6282394>Ichigo felt compelled to bow. This man who stood in front of him is clearly of high astute. He looks around to his peers. They seem just as confused as he is. But then he remembered what the man said."Wait? You guys are from the South?">As quick as Ichigo raises his head, the moment he sees the well-draped man's eyes, he bows his head and rephrases his question."A-Are you people from the South, s-sir?"
>>6282394>At first, Nezu starts thinking about how he can add this event to his story, before he mails it off. Maybe there's a big tree to the South, and... people living in the tree? Gradually, thoguh, realization dawns: this is bad. This is very bad. This might mean they'll be seeing real combat soon. He keeps it to himself, but Nezu is no longer in a mood to play, and becomes quite withdrawn again. He tries to write a normal letter later, to his relatives or to Mino Miri, but words seem inadequate. As an orphan, he is familiar with this sensation. It is the omen of death.
>>6282394>Where's Naro in all this? He was right there, and that bucket, lid and shovel are all there. Where did he go?>Ah, there he is. Way over there, speeding away on a trail of dust towards where the seniors are. Either these guys are the real deal and this is way over his head, or they're not and are unauthorised intruders. Either way, this is a situation probably better placed in the hands of someone more senior.
>You all treated the Heir of the South with enough respect expected of a bunch of kids from some backwards country, which the Country was once known to have been many decades ago. He was nonetheless impressed with Caspar's conduct, whatever theatrics he immitated turned out to be charming to the Heir, especially since Caspar's grasp of the Imperial Tongue was a mish mash of the Nation's native language and whatever prayers his elders sent off. He probably used some words wrong, not like his elders would have known anyway.>You all ended up doing the reasonable thing and found someone older than you to figure things out. It turns out this character was the very Prince of the Principality across the bay your Legion was sent to watch. A coup d'etat had ocurred so fast and the Prince was forced to escape. There was no time for the Legion to react.>Unfortunately, the Legion cannot be the gracious hosts for the Heir, General Reigen Mugen ordered a mobilization to march around the bay to attack the Southern Principality, an endeavor that could take a week. There were not enough ships to move the Legion, instead a small element stayed behind to secure heavy weapons and send off word to the Sovereign-Marshal to begin mobilization. It will take at least a month before the full force of the Empire could cross the mountains that separate the Empire and the South."Gents, I have good news and bad news. The good news is that we don't have to bring the big guns with us for the march. The bad news is that until our guns arrive, you are all riflemen." said Colonel Kabu Hazu.>The next morning, the Legion pushed out of base to march along the bay, and while dry the temperature was mild thanks to the winter. You heard that it exceeded 50C/120F during the summer. You carried only your issued carbines and a mobile pack that contained your sleeping system, rations, and water. Lieutenant Shino Nozo led the Section with two columns, some of you were a bit worried because the older brothers have mentioned the LT once hiking 30 miles in one day with 80lbs of gear, his only complaint was the mosquitos. Luckily, he maintained a sustainable pace.>Flanked by dry hills on the left and a waterfront on the right, there was nothing to talk about. So you all started talking to each other, such as your expectations, fears, what you want to see when (or if) you return. Usually by the afternoon, everybody was too tired to talk and just focused on the man in front of him.>You've all heard that your ancestors used to march far and long when you were all little people, moving from grove to grove to trim the trees and comb the earth. It looks like now you're marching to the Southern Principality to trim the enemies and comb the cities.
>>6287992>Naro can feel the certain level of tension in the air. Despite a year of training, their upcoming potential first taste of real combat lodges at the back of his mind and he's more suppressed than usual, talking less to his brothers and wrapped up in thought. He knows he'll probably be fine and they might not even have to fight at all, but he has to force himself to take part in the chatter and look at the scenery to distract him.>While he had to leave the bucket and ashcan lid behind, he still has the shovel strapped to his pack. He knows that as long as he has his sword with him, he'll always be the unbeatable knight he once imagined himself as. Before leaving, he wrote a letter to Shina and to home, expressing some of his thoughts and assuring that everything will be all right, hoping a ship will come by to pick up the mail soon.
>>6287992Oh, I totally forgot to comment. Lol.>Though Kiro had hoped to see some action when he first enlisted, he doesn't like the idea of seeing all those weenies from his troops pretending to be infantrymen. >He'll need to have enough guts to make up for his entire team.
>>6287992>Nezu is outwardly calm, but inwardly he is resigned. He mailed off what he had managed to complete of his comic, along with a sketch of himself and Mino standing together dressed like the other characters. He also wrote a letter to his relatives, perfunctory but polite , thanking them for all they did after his parents died.
>>6287992>Tense. Ichigo feels tense. The real work is actually about to happen. Actual combat. A life and death situation. No amount of mental preparation will make one truly ready for this type of work.>Ichigo lets out a deep sigh. He holds his rifle. He adjusted it a bit more to give it a bit more power. He wished he could've had the cannons. So now, he hopes he survives.
>All letters were accepted before you marched off. Days passed with you marching with your whole Cohort. You heard rumors of the enemy being spotted up ahead, but Lieutenant Shino Nozo never confirmed nor deny such rumors. First you heard there were sightings of Southerners riding raptors, cresting hills to get counts. Many of you kept your eyes on the hills to your left to see if you could see any. Most of the time you were just conentrated on marching for so long. One day, you heard rumors the Southerners saw the Legion and turned and ran. Then later that day, you heard rumors of Southerners coming out to surrender. Such rumors could not be relied upon as your Cohort was somewhere in the rear of the Legion's formation. The rumors you heard came from soldiers of the Cohort in front of you.>On the sixth day, in the middle of a march, Lieutenant Shino Nozo gave the double time order, and you all picked up pace, running with your packs and weapons. Your section broke up from the main body and went up a small hill where you unpacked and were told to watch the flank. Lieutenant Shino Nozo said the Southerners have sent out a raiding party, and the whole Legion had orders to halt and sit in the defense while the officers figured out what to do. You heard gunfire in the distance far up north, where the infantry Cohorts were deployed. Some of you were eager to see the enemy, even to be shot at so you can claim you've been to combat. Unfortunately, your carbines lack any real range and stopping power, and unless the enemy closed in on cavalry, you probably wouldn't have the opportunity to fire your weapons. Most of you took comfort in that.
>>6295365>Lacking detailed orders, what exactly everyone is meant to be doing is a question nobody seems to fully know the answer to. This certainly doesn't help calm tensions, Naro's least of all.>Having heard they're on the defence, he decides to be occupy his mind and proactive by picking a spot with good sight lines and digging himself a foxhole. He'd like to see them come at him now!
>>6295365>Nezu's propensity for people-watching makes him a great scout, theoretically. Still, he hasn't spotted any sign of the enemy yet. He does notice the nervous energy creeping through his fellow recruits, though. It manifests in a different way in each of them (Naro has started digging again, for some reason), but everyone knows something is coming...
>>6295365"The Flank, Huh...?">Kiro isn't entirely convinced they won't see combat yet. He keeps his eyes trained tight. He's not getting caught off-guard...
