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 quest essentially runs as a world event where you are all common soldiers who have little control over the progression of the war, but are nonetheless free to write bits of your characters' thoughts and even subtle actions to bring life to your characters.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 and a half has passed since the quest 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/OOB2: https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2025/6258776/OOB3: https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2025/6309125/SummaryYou are the junior brothers of Lexion XXI, 41st Artillery Cohort, Battery Green, Section 1.The Empire has been ever watchful over Republican Revolutions in neighboring states. When the Southern Principality erupted into revolution, Legion XXI was commanded to establish a foothold to prepare the rest of the Imperial Army to land for invasion. You and your brothers had successfully assault and captured a small port town just outside the Ancient Capital, holding it for a few weeks. Just then, the rest of the Imperial Army arrived...
Terminology>The NationYour semi-tribal ethnic identity. You are descended from a stock of piebald pygmies with large round ears. Despite this, the Nation is primarily identified with a cultural history rather than blood lineage, leaving it to be multi-ethnic.>The CountryThe physical homeland of the Nation, also known as the End of All Rivers, or even the Endwaters. Its core region is a vast swamp, but in its small pocket contains a variety of biomes that gives it a picturesque landscape.>The World AboveThe poetic name given to the outside world, as nearly all of it is located upriver at a higher elevation. The Nation has always remembered it as a chaotic world needing the Emperor to instill order and prosperity. The inhabitants of the World Above are all considered foreigners by the Nation.>The EmpireFor two millennia, the Nation was under the protection of the Empire, the supreme and benevolent force that brought order to the chaotic World Above so that the Nation could remain in peace. It is comprised of several states, including the Nation. Several generations ago, the Empire fell to ambitious, evil republicans who sought to destroy the foundation of civilization. It lost its Emperor, and with no protection, the foreigners entered the Country to take it away from the Nation. As the Empire had always protected the Nation, it was time for the Nation to protect the Empire, and installed the Eternal Empress to maintain security.>The Eternal EmpressThe Nation is still considered a subject of the Empire, once having an Idol rule it as a member of the Empire's Lords and Peers. Unfortunately, during an era of chaos when the evil republicans sought to destroy the foundation of civilization, they executed your Idol. When the Nation rallied to preserve the Empire, it installed your Idol, once barred from the line of succession, as the Eternal Empress, a symbol of unity across the World Above and the Country.
>Apprenticeship Required for Male YouthsAlso known as the ARMY. All able-bodied men of the nation are required to complete a five-year apprenticeship to prepare them as functional members of society. Part of this includes serving in a military capacity. This mandatory service only exempts those too ill, enabling the Nation to field half of all standing Imperial Legions stationed across the Empire.>Matchmaking Assistant Initiative for DamselsThe Nation has a deep-seated fear of extinction ever since the Grand Republic attempted to eliminate the whole Nation via conscription of child soldiers. It was always considered proper for one to marry and have children by 25, but as all young men must serve in the ARMY, it leaves little time for young men and women to court each other. Thus, the babas and aunties of the Nation have banded together to help young women back in the Country connect with young men serving abroad so that they would be ready to immediately produce the next generation of soldiers once they return.
Our Story>WE first remembered OUR stay with the Great Host, who taught US how to be guests. The earth and waters did not belong to US but to the Great Host, so WE must be respectful. WE said goodbye to the Great Host when they felt WE learned how to learn. So WE said goodbye as the Great Host left US at OUR new host; the Land Where All Waters End.>WE lived among the Endwaters as guests, making sure to not overstay OUR welcome. Then the Interlopers came, terrible guests who overstayed their welcome and denying US as guests to their lands. Thus WE hid in the trees, crying and shaking for the Interlopers were mighty and WE were only polite. That was until the Emperor came, soaring in from the World Above, with His righteous Angels, and delivered justice upon the rude Interlopers. He told US: "Let YOU be the caretakers of the from here to where the waters run and to where the mountains peak, for all the land underneath the Blue Sky belongs to I." All underneath the Blue Sky were His guests, but HE was OUR guests in the land HE charged US. The Emperor then gave US a Prince to listen to US and watch over US in stead of the Emperor.
>WE cultivated the earth and trees, not just because it belonged to the Emperor but because it was what the Great Host taught US. Foreigners came first as polite guests but then devolved into Trespassers, behaving impolite and without respect to Us and the Endwaters. Despite OUR loyalty, the Emperor's power waned, the Trespassers became Squatters, lying that they belonged and had right to the Endwaters without permission from the Emperor. WE prospered and suffered over the centuries, until WE found OURSELVES considered Trespassers to the Squatters who forgot it was the Emperor who charged US the Endwaters. Alas, Squatters from across the World Above denied the Emperor, and as it was the Emperor who charged US with the Endwaters, that charge was no longer valid.>OUR Prince tried to contain the Squatters but WE found OURSELVES without a Prince when he died, for Our Prince had only a daughter, Miri. Miri was as much an Emperor's daughter as She was OUR daughter, for Her mother was US, and even when the Squatters disrespected OUR Idol, WE remained loving and devoted to Her. Miri taught US to be patient to the Squatters, and for the Squatters to be patient with US, that all can learn to be good guests and hosts when given time. But the Squatters were impatient, they did not want to learn to be good guests but to make US their Trespassers. So they murdered OUR Idol Miri.>No Emperor, no Miri, no charge to the Endwaters. The Squatters undid all the respects WE paid to the land. They made enemies across the World Above and they charged US with murdering for them. So they took OUR sons to turn them evil like themselves.
>WE learned how to do evil, yet WE never forgot how to be good guests. When the Squatters' own evil consumed itself, WE remembered the Emperor and how all below the Blue Sky were His guests. Thus WE discovered OUR destiny; to teach the World Above how to be good guests even without an Emperor. And to help the Squatters remember, We shall remind them of the Most Glorious Heavenly Empire they denied, with a permanent Emperor whom cried for US when the Squatters did not listen; Our Most Merciful Eternal Empress Miri!Today...>As Gorkau was pouring ale for the brothers of his section, Lieutenant Shino Nozo announced the arrival of the Sovereign Marshal Zogen Hawa and six legions, with more to come."The situation in the Ancient Capital is ironically getting settled. The Republicans are winning and are consolidating. We didn't want to commence the invasion without adequate support and supplies lest we got surrounded and eliminated, but now that we are sure of that, Sovereign Marshal has commanded us to enter as the rest of the army is landing. We must strike now while the Republicans are still consolidating. Thankfully, the Sovereign Marshal has delivered us our guns and some dynamite to help take down the walls. Does anybody have any experience with dynamite?">Lieutenant Shino Nozo looks directly at Naro, knowing exactly where Naro comes from but also allowing him to make the choice to conduct a potentially risky operation.Also I really enjoyed the apple art, really appreciated it. It was really cute.
>Crom wonders what will happen to the camel's when they move out. He has grown somewhat attached to them. However he hopes they will be let free as to sheild the inocent animals from the battles to come. He also hopes they won't be butchered to feed the army.
>>6351592>Naro sips at some of Gorkau's ale. The local alcohol at home was never very good and he's not gotten any since joining the Army.>It's actually quite good, but he thinks it might have an aftertaste of potato peelings>.....explosives?>Explosives were largely forbidden in the mine, the coal being soft enough to dig by hand and the constant danger of gas and dust explosions>That said, they were used to blast new adits and on the surface and he managed to sit on on the blasting of roads and foundations on the mountainside>While not formally trained, he's picked up enough to know how to cut a stick of dynamite, measure and connect fuses, space, drill and pack a drillhole and general explosive safety>Seeing nobody else, he apprehensively raises his hand, hoping he won't have to do this in a hurry under combat conditions
>>6351592Nezu has heard of dynamite, but knows almost nothing of its practical capabilities, and so stays quite. When Naro raises his hand,he feels a pang of fear for him, as he recognizes one thing: if it wasn't dangerous, they wouldn't be asking. It's been some time now since they've been able to share comics and art, but Naro remains one of the boys Nezu is closest with, in his quiet way...
>>6351592>Ale? Decent enough. Tastes a bit of potato peelings, but with the ingredients used the greater surprise was that it wasn't more Potatoey.>Dynamite? Gorkau has heard a few iron-miners mentioning the stuff between their drinks after work, but even there he wasn't certain how much they talked of the real stuff>so he doesn't so much as venture a thing
>>6351592>Ichigo takes a sip of the ale Gorkau poured in for him. He's not used to alcohol, but it does help soothe his nerves a bit. Soon enough, they'd be at the doorsteps of war.>When he heard from the lieutenant of the dynamite, he got a bit more excited."Dynamite! Explosions! Amazing!">Ichigo holds his hand before his mouth. The excitement of utilizing and preparing the explosives got to him.>He has played with fireworks as a kid, but he never handled the real stuff like that. But a situation like this would be a grand opportunity to prove oneself.>Ichigo raises his hand to lieutenant Nozo's question:"W-While not directly with dynamite, I have some experience playing around with fireworks with some of the older brothers of my village."
Well, somehow this thread got caught in my filter. I should probably keep it pinned from now on.>>6351592"Ale? No thanks. I'm not drinking any hooch."Kiro's upbringing left with him with a distaste for alcohol. Ale might be pretty light as far as drinks went, but he had no intention of ever becoming a drunkard like the drinking louts on his town he used to pick fights with for fun.>>6351608"Nah. I heard camel meat tastes like trash. No way they'll try to butcher them unless we're starving.."
>>6352975Nezu is sullenly nursing his own ale, but at this outburst, he can't help but ask aloud:>"How do you know what camel meat tastes like, Kiro?"It might come out sounding almost jeering, but he's really just astounded. He can't imagine anyone in The Nation ever having to do a thing like that as a young boy. Surely elders would never let anyone get so hungry?
>>6351608>>6352975>>6352987>Eating camels? Unthinkable among the Nation! Considered taboo, eating any creature of the land is almost consdered the same as cannibalism, reserved only for the most dire of situations. Eating creatures of the sea, such as fish, crustaceans, cephalopods, molluscs, and sometimes whale or dolphin on the other hand...>>6351640>>6351946>Dynamite had always been reserved for special scenarios that never warranted a standing unit specialized in it. However, as this urban operation was deemed dangerous with many uncertainties, command has ordered units to experiment with dynamite as a utility for the invasion. Along with your field guns, crates of dynamite were unloaded into the base, and seeking to familiarize as many of the infantry with its use as possible, anybody with knowledge of its operation were voluntold to give lessons.>The planning of the invasion has started as the army slowly surrounded the city, and orders were given to artillery units to bombard the walls every night to keep any garrison from within a restful night. Other than those dynamite experts, Lieutenant Shino Nozo had you all review your artillery skills during the day in preparation for tonight's bombardment.
>>6356154>reserved only for the most dire of situations.Yep
>>6352987"Obviously I didn't eat it, genius!...That's just what I heard.">>6356154>Kiro stretched his arms, as he prepared for another exercite. Most people might think being a loader is some easy job, just passing things along, barely even really fighting...but it turns out cannon shells are heavy! And dangerous! And you need to pass them real fast and good or else they might fall...it's the kind of job that required muscles - and on that part, he can't be beat!
>>6356154Between artillery practice, Nezu takes some time to sketch a sort of desperate antihero character with more than a passing resemblance to Kiro. The joy in earlier art isn't there, though, and he soon abandons the effort. He does eventually find it in him to do a series of doodles of camels, which makes him feel a bit happier.
>>6356154>Nervous at doing this on his own, Naro goes to refresh himself on explosives first>Noting his enthusiasm and prior habits, he offers Ichigo some extra lessons in wiring fuses and prepping holes if he's up for it, though he'll handle the actual explosives until he's sure Ichigo can treat them with enough care and respect.>In the first attempt in the field, thanks to training on hard rock instead of dirt, he uses far too much bang and sends people scurrying for cover under a rain of rocks and soil>Subsequent attempts and the classes go much better, though he has to give a few people earfuls for being too cavalier with such dangerous items>By the end, he's covered in soot, fumes and dust and more grateful for a hot shower than ever
>>6357323>Holding the dynamite in his hand, Ichigo feels both adrenaline, excitement and fear. These things aren't like the firecrackers he used to make and play with at home.>Luckily, Naro noticed him and decided to help. Naro taught him some more about the dynamite. Seeing them go off and destroy the rocks was eye-opening. Never had Ichigo seen such powerful explosions before. Naru does remark him to stay vigilant and careful handling them.>>6356154>The most exciting time in the army for Ichigo has always been artillery practice. Aiming the gun and letting it blast. But Ichigo also understand that when they have to attack the city, it won't be just a game anymore. It will be real.
>>6356154>Gorkau practices as a loader; trying to get used to a familiar rhythm to the movements needed to guide fresh shells into the breach and the various clicks, pulls and turns of the machinery needed to lock each round in place in readyness to fire. Also practiced: getting quickly clear once loaded, so that Saven and Sokaru can promptly fire the Gun without risk of recoil-strike. And then you get quickly back into position to go again...
"When are we attacking?">That is a question you kept hearing but never answered. Every morning and evening, the infantry rehearsed, prepared for an attack, getting all their gear together and staging, only to unstage to do it all again. You guys instead just focused on positioning your guns every night, firing until sunrise, only to break it all down and return your guns to the safety of your armory."Soon.">It's been a week since the rest of the army landed, spreading Legions along the wall. A few of you wondered why the Southerners were just letting you all get into position. Perhaps it was because there was a civil war occurring in the heart of the city, and the enemy didn't have the resources to launch a sortie, only prepare for a siege.>As members of an artillery battery, you were excused from patrols, instead focusing on firing rounds at the walls sporadically. It was dark, so you moved cautiously rather than quickly, not that it mattered since you weren't even meant to fire fast, just keep the enemy from feeling safe behind their wall. When the moon was bright enough, you took the opportunity to do some target practice. Every night, the walls looked worse and worse, ready to just crumble. It became something of a game to try to knock down as much of the wall in one shot, so you all took turns firing. Ichigo was clearly in the lead.>A few days later, just as the sun was rising, you had all been firing relentlessly at the walls, ready to break down as the infantry arrived just as expected for their morning rehearsals. Lieutenant Shino Nozo, who never missed a night of shooting, stopped you from breaking down your position.>Suddenly, along the length of the walls, explosions and collapsing segments."We're going in.">The infantry began their advance, spread out in squads, in a speedy but controlled jog, their guns up. Your gun crew adjusted your angles of fire, shooting overhead your advancing infantry. Lieutenant Shino Nozo spotted movement on the unfallen segments of the wall with his binos and guided you to shoot in that direction."Over the walls if you aren't confident."
>>6361380The patterns of the crumbling walls were like the decaying corpse of some big beast, or so it seemed to Nezu. He was tempted to sketch them during downtime between volleys, but whenever he started, he was repulsed by what he created.Then, the order came. It was time to kill. Nezu joined the other boys, and put his keen eye for observation to work helping them to spot where their still living targets were.
>>6361380>The loud explosion of the artillery cannon's firing. The sound of metal crashing into rocks. The crackling of fire. The blowing of the wind and smoke. The cries of soldiers. The firing of pistols and shotguns. This is the real thing. No more practice. We're truly at war. And Ichigo is part of it.>It was tough. Days and nights of bombarding the city. No rest. Older Brother Tai continued to scream at the crew to continue with the loading of ammunition. Chero and Ichigo continued to focus on aiming and firing - often switching sides who does which task.>Ichigo wondered when the walls would collapse. He'd constantly aimed at various integral parts of the walls. He's sure it will collapse at any time. Then, it happens. The walls cave in. The siege is entering its final stage. The infantry rushes in.>Lieutenant Nozo orders us to bombard some parts of the wall that haven't collapsed. That would definitely trample any of the defenders still near it, surely killing them.>Ichigo knows what it means. He aims the cannon towards the segments, ready to fire at them at Brother Tai's signal.
>>6361380>Naro pokes his head out of the sandbagged position overlooking the walls to see the results of his handiwork>The last couple of days have been a whirlwind of activity, part of one team of many preparing huge charges in the walls' foundations in tunnels dug by the sappers>Having lit the fuse on hundreds of sticks of dynamite drilled into the walls and ran, the wait for the bang had been the longest fifteen minute of his life>Fortunately, it had gone off (literally) without a hitch at precisely the allotted time and had worked perfectly, with Naro allowing himself a moment of pride, raising his shovel to the sky>Master Renshiri who taught him must surely be smiling - if he knew, which he doesn't of course>He make his way back to his brothers to assist with the gun as the assault starts, wondering all the while if he should consider doing this more often>After all, he still has a few carefully packed sticks buried at the bottom of his pack
>>6362754Crom doesn't want to hurt anybody, and wishes he was back home and not here. The constant firing of the cannon day in day out gives him a headache and when he sleeps he hears the sound in him mind. However he is extremely grateful to be manning the artillery over being part of the infantry charge. So he repeats his tasks the same way he learned while drilling over and over, and tries not to think about who the cannon balls are hitting.
my bad didn't mean to link to your post
>>6361380>With the advance ongoing, the rate of fire seems to go up; For the gun is now aiming high without firm direction, and firing regularly to keep what remains of the enemy suppressed whilst our friends advance.>Gorkau keeps on loading, feeding the weapon's hunger with ammunition as it chews through the stock.>Until the moment comes when the weapon's shell-hunger slows again.>Does this mean that our advance has reached their lines, Gorkau wonders?
