To whom it may concern:
In the absence of formal leadership of the 33rd Infantry Expedition Squad, it remains now and for the foreseeable future as an independent branch of the army. In this situation, it thusly falls to me to order the actions of this unique arm of the military so that it can perform the duties entrusted to its members.
This letter is sent to inform the non-commissioned officer assigned to the 33rd Infantry Expedition Squad of her duties in the field, and those under her command.
You are to enter the neutral town of Tershire, an independent county whose tributary state is in a balance between Carlia and Andover. In normal circumstances Tershire marks one of the only peaceful rest stops between Carlia and Andover; however, in recent years the young Count Roger of Tershire has had his presence presided over by his regency council. This has increased tensions along the River Fen, where Carlia and Andover officially mark their border for several miles. In both the courts of Andover and of Carlia, there are calls for Tershire to be properly incorporated into one or the other, ending its status as an independent tributary to both kingdoms.
In Tershire, most importantly, the ruins of what once was a religious structure have been unearthed by local farmers. Underneath the stonework run catacombs, but their depth is unknown, as superstitions amongst the populace prevent any local ownership of the issue. This can be pressed to the advantage of Andover, and the 33rd Infantry Expedition Squad can be brought in as a small enough armed force to not raise tensions, and investigate the ruin.
Thus, your mission can be summarized in two parts: first, to examine the history of this structure and what lies beneath and around it, and second, to provide a military presence representing Andover without upsetting the local order. It is key that the relative peace in Tershire be maintained, as anything else could result in Carlian-Andover conflict along the River Fen border zone.
May God favour the bold;
~RH Sir Malcolm S. Holdfield, Chief and General of the Army
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March 16, 236 RA
Here it is: Tershire, town and county of thirty thousand, maybe more, maybe less.
As you halt your march along the King's Road from Andover, you're greeted by scattered, thatched-roof cottages, lazily puffing smoke into the air. Swaths of farmland surround you, worked by men and women and children alike, filling the air with the scent of manure. This is hardly the sort of place that brings to mind conflict and battle, that's for certain. You wonder if anyone in this town has even seen blood or heard a gunshot, but then again - looks can always be deceiving.
The farmland in the east is famous for being rich, and as you look around, that certainly seems about right. It's spring, and the fruits (and vegetables) of the harvest are just being planted, with the fields as busy as they'll ever be until autumn. Spring came early this year, which is a surprise, and for some a relief. A good crop might assure the Carlians and Dovers of the usefulness of Tershire as an independent county, reminding either side of what could be wasted utterly in the case of a war. Resources are nothing to be spurned, especially not food - especially not after a winter like the last.
Along the centre of the cobblestone road you can see, passing you by, carts being dragged by oxen, a remarkably old-fashioned thing, but nothing unexpected in the more rural parts of the known world. A few of the wagon drivers give you odd looks, as do some farmers, but otherwise you're not viewed with any immediate suspicion or hostility. Your uniforms immediately mark you as Dover troops, and a unit of six soldiers with no artillery support does not a Dover army make.
Far in the distance, across a stone bridge and a stream, some more familiar semblances of modern society catch your eyes; houses with sloped, tiled roofs, their walls of sturdy red and brown brick, the smoke coming from their chimneys appearing distinctly more industrial than agricultural. The centre of the town, through which runs the River Fen. Tershire's been growing lately, welcoming an economic boom from local mines found near the county borders, no doubt enjoyed by the crown of Tershire, whatever they have in mind. Regardless, what used to be a backwater hamlet ten or twenty years ago now is almost a slice of Andover herself, looking perfectly like an incorporated town and county of the kingdom. Not that it could stand side-by-side with the likes of Redland or Andover, of course, but it shows potential, of that you have no doubt.
But, your mission always remains in the back of your mind; there isn't time for a soldier to admire a quaint little village.
The ruins of the old world church stand out like a jagged spire; several storeys high you can see, towering visibly over the rest of the town, what you imagine used to be the face of the structure. You can't make out much more than that from this distance, but it's clear what you're looking for.
It's not all too surprising, though, that such an interesting find would come to the surface in Tershire of all places. To the south, on a hill beside the River Fen, the other notable building in the county stands, demanding your attention: renovated by the last Count of Tershire, the ambitiously grand Castle Tershire was allegedly built over the ruins of an old world fort. Apparently no knowledge of use or note was found beneath the ruins - so the Tershire officials reiterate, time and time again - but its red, turreted walls recall the more elegant structures of its kind in Redland.
It's the residence of the Count, naturally, though the ten year old boy undoubtedly has much of an interest in venturing beyond its keep in order to get a look at it from the outside. In the present day, what matters most is that it's the residence of the Regency, where all the real decisions are made while the boy count plays and dawdles and learns from his nannies.
As the official representatives of Andover in Tershire, you could introduce yourselves to the Regency and the county court, and perhaps they can shed some light on the ruined structure and its purpose - little knowledge besides the obvious has managed to escape from Tershire to Andover, if there is any knowledge at all to note.
Otherwise, the crumbled church and its spire beckon to you, too; standing tall on the edge of the town to the north, the object of your mission awaits your scrutiny.
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Originally Posted by asterism42
