This morning the trumpet sounded and Colonel Elyard graciously welcomed his new Regiment into existence. The troops made a splendid display marching from the old fort field where they've been bivouacking in tents, down the Rue Latte. The local amateur Umpah band played them through town to the square, and with the cheering we barely noticed the occasional dying cat sounds. The kids were excited and were blowing up brown lunch bags and popping them, like any good holiday.
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| Colonel Scott Elyard reads the oath and joins in the rousingly patriotic "Clarion of Chanticleer" |
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| a fine looking Regiment of Chasseurs, no? |
It was dreadfully cold however, and we were soon envying the heavy wool coats of the NCOs. No matter, It was a thing of beauty to see my hard work, Everyone's hard work come together. With the problems in Wormwood it's clear that one day or other we will need these trained women and men. They've taken up the hard duty and will live a life of toil pain and sweat that makes my more
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| Military Police on security detail |
intellectual efforts pale. but here I am getting carried away. Instead listen to t
he Colonel's remarks;
“The time is now near at hand, which must probably determine whether Polyestrine Peoples are to be free men or slaves; whether they are to have any property they can call their own; whether their houses and farms are to be pillaged and destroyed, and themselves consigned to a state of wretchedness from which no human efforts will deliver them.
“The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under the Gods, on the courage and conduct of this army. This Regiment.
“Our own, our country’s honour call upon us for a vigorous and goodly exertion; and if we now shamefully fail, we shall become infamous to the whole world.
“Let us, then rely on the goodness of our cause, and the aid of Providence, in whose hands victory is, to animate and encourage us to great and noble actions.
“The eyes of all our countrymen are now upon us, and we shall have their blessings and praises, if happily we are the instruments of saving them from the tyranny mediated against them. Let your training sustain you, rely now on one another, go forth, and come back not unless with the laurels of Glory, or the Red Badge of your courage!"
Well, I can't vouch for those being the exact words as from my seat it was Impossible to hear him over the wind, the kids, dogs, trucks, and general chaos, but what I have here is clipped from the venerable Forge Reader I copped at my favorite place on the Rue Latte.
Well, the troops are nestled safely in their permanent quarters, the cardboard box with a lable, awaiting the call to defend their Nation, and now I can lay me down to rest of my labours.
All the flags of the Ornrian nations are deligtfully rendered in color. I love color plates in books! 
