For Their Service

[ErikAzog 3575]

For Their Service

 

It is the year 1791, 11th of Owyn’s Flame. I stand in the Imperial Court, watching the General be elevated to the highest rank attainable in the Order of Lion; The Grand Cross. I was elevated to the rank of Knight Commander of the Order of the Lion, just before the General took the stage. As I stand here watching General Alren DeNurem proudly accept the honor, I think back on my time in the Imperial State Army and all the years of service I’ve committed my life to the Imperial State. But even greater the years of service that Alren DeNurem had committed to this idea known as the Imperial State Army.

 

 

 

General Alren DeNurem, est. 1790

I stood there, I watched the General give the Nauzican Oath to those attending the Court and His Imperial Highness, John Charles. I looked closely as this aged and venerable man gave his words. Each word was spoken truthfully and with the utmost respect. General Alren DeNurem is  a name that will be remembered in the annals of Imperial history. Under his leadership the ISA turned into one of the Empire’s greatest institutions that it could offer; A smile could not help but come across my face as I saw him stand before the court and he delivered his address to those attending.

 

“I came to this Empire a foreigner who knew little of the glory of Man. I've since then given every ounce of my being and every moment of my life in service to something that is truly greater than the sum of its parts.”

 

“I shall continue this until the day I die.”

 

A foreigner, a man not of the Holy Orenian Empire. Of course his family had ancient history with the Empire, the House DeNurem was among the first Kings within the Empire. ruling the Kingdom of Hanseti and leading the Teutonic Order. This family had a legendary legacy, one of great martial skill. They led one of the military orders of old that assisted Exalted Godfrey in making the Empire into one of the greatest nations in the world. But that was almost 400 years ago. And now before me stood the scion of that legacy, He came into the ISA not as an officer but as an enlisted, perhaps this is what led me to see the value of each of those who start from the rank of recruit. For he was not the only one to make work his way up through the ranks of the Enlisted.

 

 
Captain Velhrun Darkwood, est. 1787

 

Before he and I took the stage, my protege Velhrun Darkwood was honored with a knighthood of his own. A great man and Captain in his own right, when the war against the Inferi he was the first to take the threat seriously in the Empire. After all, Korvassa was a distant land in the South. He immediately sent the proposal of a corps of men that would handle gathering information on the Inferi and combating them on the frontlines. the Death Korps, a cadre of troopers willing to take risks that none other would. He would personally lead many missions into the Korvassan landscape. With these accomplishments he has truly set his name up to be one of those who have risen up from the ranks of the enlisted to achieve great things within the ISA. As I look upon him now, “Truly our work and service has secured the future of the Imperial State Army.”

 

 

Lieutenant Colonel of the Imperial State Army, Peter Baldwin d’Arkent

 

 

[Jokinghills 825]

Velhrun Darkwood would read over the missive and note “And it has been my honor to serve under you Lieutenant Colonel, your wisdom and guidance has aided me in my years as a Lieutenant and now as a Captain!” He would finish off with a salute to the Lieutenant Colonel.

[Da_Emperors 1987]

Ledicort d’Azor would read the parchment as he considered the events of the day that he was present for. “Captain Velhrun Darkwood, Lt Col Peter Baldwin, General Alren DeNurem, these are but men of the highest quality, leadership, and achievement. It shall be every soldier’s ambition to serve in the way that these three leaders have done so.” 

[𝖂𝖆𝖌𝖜𝖆𝖓 740]

Sergeant Willem Galbraith Would thoroughly read the missive in his office in the far north , moving to take a sip of his whisky “It has been an honour to serve under such valiant exemplary individuals , their utter professionalism should be the model for all to follow!” 

[BobBox 3798]

Vitali – Once a soldier reminisced on his times in the army. Days spent planning with the General, with Peter. Days spent pouring over maps. He remembered when the General and Peter had joined the ISA and the missions they had done together. It was odd to look back on such times now – as he had received a higher purpose. He wished the best for his old friends, though he knew that his wishes would do nothing.

[GhostSHTR 1205]

Ensign Sergei Othaman would read the missive from his home office “These are fine men of the Empire and deserve every thing they gotten. I am honored to be in the Death Korp and hope to live up to my family's name. “

[wyvernbro 77]

On a routine visit to Owynsburg in order to top up imperial supplies, Lieutenant Stafford makes a visit to a certain hall within the 3^rd Brigade’s Peter Chivay barracks. There, in gilded frames on the second floor, hang the portraits of all the previous dragoon captains – Peter d’Arkent and Velhrun Darkwood.

 

As he looks on these images of his friends and mentors, the Lieutenant makes a silent vow – to carry forward the mantle of the empire just as his forebears had, and honor them as a true Orenian. Taking out his officer’s riding crop, he mutters “One God, One Empress, One Empire,” as his eyes focus on the dragoon crest embossed upon it.

[JJosey 1481]

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