His Majesty's Imperial Guard

[Chaqery 427]

The Rose Captain chuckles, turning about to face the silent line of White Rose soldiers.

"Right. Vell let's not get involved in any more political bickering over who can serve as cannon fodder zhe best. Back to zhe mountain. Fall out."

In a unified, "Jawohl!" the men of the white and red file out without further word. Toov takes a moment to nod respectuflly to both Lancel and Lord Winter.

"Prince Lancel. Lord Vinter. Emperor protect."

His large figure falls in at the end of the collumn as the Order clears off.

[Kickstarted and Running 965]

Patrick keeps a plain face

"Your words are very fancy, and yet for all the time you spend in the woods you forget titles. It's Imperial Prince Patrick Horen. And if you had spent any time in important company you would be well aware of my despise for such titles."

He doesn't smile or make any sign of pride at felling this blow on the mans honor

"Now let me ask you something, where this city was attacked, where were your men? They were not here protecting the city until day broke. And where were you and your men with the heavens opened and rock fell from it? You were not with the Imperial Guard helping citizens into the safety of the mines. Nor we're your men called upon to assist in the hunt for Knox."

He pauses a moment, the Legionnaires beaming with pride as they remember doing all of these things

"While you go and build a castle for yourself, these men protect citizens. And why are you fighting the Syndicate? Godfrey made it clear to leave them be. Are you defying His Imperial Majesty's will now? After all, he made that announcement over 7 years ago and has not repealed it since, not has anyone with the authority"

Patrick sighs heavily

"Lord Winter, soon we will need a united army. We cannot have lords subject to squabbles controlling forces when maybe a lords soldiers would tip the balance. We need them united under one banner. We never said lords would not be commanders, just not all will. I have plans to discuss with the generals about making some of the lords officers within the Imperial Guard. The Bannerman system died with Asulon, and it proved to be dangerous when my beloved uncles Artorus and Ezekiel rebelled. If you love it, let it go. I did with my bannermen. We all need to think of the future."

Patrick looks a bit softer, seeming to plead with Lord Winter to do this for Oren

[Kickstarted and Running 965]

Patrick closes his eyes for a moment

"Lord Winter, nothing will ever make this nation anything less than great if I can do anything about it. I would rather die than that to happen, and I nearly have many a time. If you are insulted this day it is because you allow yourself to be insulted. The Emperor gave orders for the Imperial Guard to be made, do you not think they will be our future?"

Patrick looks with a half dead look in his eyes

"I have seen and done things no man should. My true colors are shades that would make the loosest widow wail and the most filthy bandit spit in disgust. I did what I had to in order to stay on this earth and serve my Emperor. Your bannermen, as beloved as they are to you are slowly becoming obsolete. There will be a time too when the Knights are obselete, and the Imperial Guard too."

Patrick removes his helm, the red vertical horsetail a brilliant color against the steel of the soldiers behind him

"Time renders all things useless, but we must make the most of what we can while we have thr ability to. Honor is slowly becoming an old thing, where the old heroes had honor like we could never see. It is slowly fading as we have bandits sitting in hills, Greenskins raiding for the love of war claiming honor, Dwarves sitting in their halls drinking and talking, not at all what they used to. The only ones who haven't changes is the Elves, who sit passive in their trees and scold all. The world is changing, Lord Winter. We are old dogs of an age forgotten by young men. It is our choice to become relics, or join with the age which rises over horizon as a sun brighter than any we have seen."

Patrick pauses, the banners flapping the only sound

"The Imperial Guard is just one thing that is to come... Lords won't have their own land before we know it, not like they used to. Citizens will be more aware of the world. We may even make peace with the Dwarves. Time is washing away the old dry sand and bringing new soft silt for brilliant children to build with. A poor analogy, yes, but fitting for all that has happened"

Patrick finishes and awaits Lord Winter's response

[Kickstarted and Running 965]

"You ask for proof..." Patrick mutters, not a question

"Your proof is in the order of the Emperor, chosen by God. The Imperial Guard were made because His Imperial Majesty felt it was the right thing to do. I did not Gree at first, I ached for my men who would no longer be mine."

Patrick pauses

"But perhaps you must have faith, in us. Time will tell, and God will show us all. Maybe we are wrong, but right now most nobles can't provide the land and beds for their men, but the Imperial Guard can. And truthfully, Lord Winter, we are never safe. Not from anyone, including ourselves. Have faith that His Majesty Godfrey made the better choice. Because right now, faith is all we have. Faith and each other.

United we stand, divided we fall."

Patrick crosses his arms

"Your proof will be shown in the coming days. But already the proof of how the bannermen failed us is blatant. Yours, mine, Silverblades, all of our bannermen failed to do what needed to be done. Until sufficient time has passed, I plead you have faith in us. We are risking all we have."

Patrick looks like years have passed, not the figure he was before the departure from Asulon

[Kickstarted and Running 965]

Patrick sighs, leaning in the wall and holding his chest

The Legate goes to catch him but Patrick waves him off

"I'll be fine Legate, I'm just getting back in shape... My body is still adjusting to the sudden appearance of food after its absence for so long" he gives a weary and weak smile

"Give it some time, they don't trust the forces of the Emperor, and that is what troubles me the most. They will in due time. Just do your duty to Oren and put them in awe. That's an order"

The legate cracks a smile and nods "Your will he done."

Patrick sighs and pushes himself up "I need rest, assign duties to the men and see if anything needs done around the Nation." He limps off, clearly too tired to wait for an answer and awaiting some much needed rest

[SkyyoBee 249]

Moved to the Great Library. It shall be sorted into appropriate category shortly.