"Happy Birthday, Our Brave Boys. You are now twenty years of age and it is time you embark on your Youthful Journey so that you may learn and grow to return home as men. Make farewells to your family, your friends, and your neighbors, for they will surely miss you, but never forget the Memories you made with them, so you can share them to new friends you will make from across the nation. Make us proud and become the man we need to preserve and continue Our Memories."

Every month, around 10,000 boys are shipped to Sleepy Waters for their twentieth birthday. They travel by rail or paddle streamer from their home village or town, most taking no longer than 16 hours on their voyage. It was a common sight to see so many old boys traveling during the last day of every month, carrying nothing but the clothes on their back, some cash for when they become hungry on their way to Sleepy Waters, and a slip of paper containing their personal details.

Sleepy Waters was not a pleasant sight to behold, entirely devoid from the expanse of farm fields and meadows nearly all boys are accustomed to. Those from the capital aren't as shocked as their rural counterparts but it was sill undesirable for its dull colors and muddy tracks, though the chimneys of smoke was more familiar to them. The boys entered Sleepy Waters on foot, forming a few of the longest lines under a canopy, turning and weaving to fit as many under to get away from the unfortunate rain.

Upon approaching the head of the line, one would come across an older gentleman in a dark uniform demanding each boy's slip of paper in exchange for a metallic tag with a string of numbers. He would copy the number onto the slip of paper given to him and call for the next boy.

***INTRODUCTION***
Greetings, this is not meant to be a conventional quest, instead mimicking some previous threads on /tg/ where I just shared my worldbuilding while drawing cute soldier boys. Often times people will ask questions about the setting or project themselves as a character in the threads, writing their thoughts, dreams, desires, and fears. I almost always entertain every remark and comment in the form of a drawing as the threads move onto a short story following the anons' until into a story's conclusion.

The real purpose of this quest is just for me to draw cute soldier boys.

***YOUR BRAVE BOY***
>Name
I only need your boy's personal name. The personal names of this nation always contains two names, a Primary Name and an Extra Name. The Extra Name tend to have an element mimicking from the Primary Name, such as a repeating syllable or maintaining vowel order. You can choose to ignore this if you wish.

Examples:
Henzo Zoro
Dairon Daigo
Sokaru Kamu
Obo Bobozo

>Skin Complexion
Can range between pale white to dark black. The nation, while culturally homogenous, are ethnically heterogenous.

Default: Earthy Medium-Light

>Hair Color
Anime hair colors allowed. The nation possesses in interesting genetic trait for their hair that makes some of them piepald. Some have patches of white in their hair, others have white hair with patches of color, and few have completely albino hair. Where these patches appear are random, one might have piebald hair completely on one side of their head.

Default: Black with White Patches.

>Eye Color
Anime eye colors allowed. The nation does not possess anything interesting about their eyes.

Default: Amber.

>Ear Shape
The nation has an interesting trait where those with piebald hair genes also tend to have large ears. Sometimes these ears take a round form. Those with normal ears almost always have normal hair.

Default: Large and Round.

>Other Facial/Head Features (Optional)
Use this to explain how their faces are shaped to give me more details on how to draw them.

>Background Info (Optional)

***FAQ***
>Can I post my own drawing/reference pic?
Yes.

>Can I submit more than one boy?
I'd recommend against it because it might just slow me down, but there's no way for me to know if you have a different ID.

>Can I be a girl?
I don't mind drawing cute girls but unfortunately you won't be going through what these boys will.

>Something about these ears and words are familiar...
Hehe

>>6220569 (OP)
Tfw a 300 years timeskip

>>6220570
Okay uh...if I got this right, this is an multiplayer quest type thing where any anon makes their own character right?

>>6220570
>Takezu Nezu
>Mahogany
>Blue with white patches
>Amber
>Large round ears
>Round face, full lips, hard eyes
>Orphan

Alright, let's give it a try
>Name
Kiro Hachiro
>Skin Complexion
White
>Hair Color
Blonde- specifically, I was thinking of his hair looking like pic related, a bit of a 'brush' so to say.
>Eye Color
Green
>Ear Shape
I'm not quite sure what 'piebald' means, but if he's got the special hair gene by being blonde, I suppose large, but otherwise it doesn't really matter.
>Other Facial/Head Features (Optional)
Aggressively sharp features. If you want to know what that means, just search Akagi. Just...you know, less ridiculous?
>Background Info (Optional)
Delinquent, of the 'get into fights' kind - after all, he's blonde, and blonde means delinquent.

I don't really know anything about this, but it sounds interesting, so I guess i'll take a swing. Should I make a trip or something to 'verify' myself in case my ID changes?

Lingdom QM?

>>6220589
>It is rare for a child to be without parents, there is always a relative to bring in an unfortunately child. If not raised by an uncle, aunt, or grandparents, you grew up with the whole neighborhood with plenty of aunts, uncles, and elders. The fate of your parents could have been an unfrotunate accident at the factories, or an unwanted fate of disease. Perhaps your father never left the Journey, leaving you alone with your mother who fell for a fatal fate.

>>6220595
>Life used to be so simple when children listened to their elders and didn't get into fights. Due to your temperatment, your community put you into labors so that you'd stay off the streets. Your relatives continued to chastise you for your belligerence as it would not be helpful when you came of age, though some saw potential in a promising career if your aggression could be honed and tempered.

Piebald means patches of your body have no pigmentation. It's like vitiligo, except in this nation's genetics it only affects hair. Domesticated animals often feature piebald coloring, such as dairy cow. You don't need a trip, it'd be useful if you post with your character's name, sometimes I draw the same characters as part of the show and tell.

>>6220587
Sort of, it's really just meant to be RP fun.

>>6220603
Hello. Sorry for abandoning Lingdom Quest, I actually had a post ready but one month became two months and two months became three.

After the initial processing of the boys, they were marched to a compound of barracks by a uniformed older man. He barracks were open areas with rows of bunk beds and the boys claimed whatever bunk was available as they got in. Friends from the same village tended to congregate in the same area, though many of the boys didn't mind making new friends. They were given linen and cleaning supplies, and despite how spotless and empty the barracks were, they were still expected to observe cleanliness. Until sunset, every boy scrubbed every inch of the barracks, picked every piece of stray lint from their blankets, and if there was nothing to clean, they swept dirt outside the barracks if it wasn't raining.

The following day consisted mostly of issuing gear and clothing to the boys. They were told to lock away the clothes they came with and were given a new set of clothing. One of the sets had to be custom altered for them all, so they all tried on different sizes, with young and old women measuring and marking adjustments. This was the dress uniform, a red tnic with brass buttons, black trousers with a red stripe. It was the uniform everybody saw being worn by Young Men returning from their journey, though they were always eager to discard it. For now, every boy was eager to get their scarlet uniform returned to them after the correct alterations were made.

>>6220638
>top row: heroic-looking protagonist lads
>bottom row: edgy squad of rival-looking fuckers
Excellent.

>Sorry for abandoning Lingdom Quest
You can always pick it back up again!

>>6220641
>This was the dress uniform, a red tnic with brass buttons, black trousers with a red stripe.
We kind of look like Mounties

>>6220641
I can't complain about the uniforms. They complement the hair.

>>6220570
>Name
Ichigo Tsuyama
>Skin Complexion
Earthy Light
>Hair Color
Black with Green Patches
>Eye Color
Emerald Green
>Ear shape
Large and round
>Other features
Bit of a heart-shaped head, little bit looking like Ryo Asuka from Devilman
>Background
Born to a family of rice farmers. Spent a lot of his time tinkering on machines and toys, much to his father's annoyance.

Really sounds like a lot of fun!

>>6220808
>Hair Color
>Black with Green Patches
Sorry, but you can't have these two colors, one must be white because it represents a lack of pigmentation, so can you please clarify which color you want? Thank you for your submission though!

>>6220809
That's okay. We can go white and green.

>>6220570
>Name
Sairus Myron
>Skin Complexion
Extremely pale, almost transluscent
>Hair Color
Black with white streaks.
>Eye Color
Bright yellow
>Ear Shape
Round, big.
>Other Facial/Head Features (Optional)
Sharp cheekbones and thick eyebrows
>Background Info (Optional)
Sairus was a strange toddler that roamed into a village with scratch and bite marks from wild animals in the wilderness. No parents were found but from an early age the boy was strange and many people found him off-putting, so he used humor to get people to warm up to him.

>>6220808
>Before the advent of rice agriculture among the Nation, acorns were the primary form of subsistence. But as the population boomed, the sporadic growing cycle of the acorn could not supply. The Nation possesses a deep sense to tradition, and even though rice cultivation is not considered prestigious, it is still romanticized as the foundation to the Nation's economy. But time's have changed, and the Nation needs engineers, mechanics, innovators, inventors...

>>6220826
>When this child was found with animal bite marks, veterans were mobilized to find the perpatrators. After all, this Nation has always had an infinity to animals, and any rabid animal posed a threat to all their children. Nobody knew where this boy came from, it was possible his family came from those who voluntarily isolated themselves to remain undisturbed from the changes to society. But they were wrong. Why should the Nation shoulder the burden to preserve Our Memories when the rest get to pretend Our Enemies do not want to destroy Us?

Every boy was given three sets of labor clothes: a short sleeved cotton shirt and denim trousers. They also received two pairs of boots; one to wear for labors and in the field, the second as dress. When the labor boots were worn down, they would switch to their dress boots and receive a new pair of boots to become their new pair of dress boots. Along with these they also received a wool jacket for mildly cold weather and a visored cap to cover their eyes during a sunny day.

Throughout the day, boys were crowded into an amphitheater, sitting on the ground in their new clothes, and be addressed by an older veteran about what was expected to them.

"Happy Birthday, Our Young Men. Now that you are twenty, you are subject to the Laws of Men. You are no longer children, where your parents answered to any transgression you might have committed. You are now solely responsible to your own actions and behavior. If we find that you cannot be the man we need, then you will remediate until you can return to your families. We want you to return to your families, to the rest of Our Nation, so that you can marry and raise proper boys and girls that Our Nation needs. We will only treat you like boys when you don't act like men."

The young men were each given a book on the Men's Code, applicable to all males once they became twenty. It listed many duties and expectations, as well as sanctioned punishments for those who did not uphold it. For most young men, these laws were more or less a list of chores they thought was fair, while for a few others, they seemed strict and oppressive. What do they mean they were not allowed to kiss a girl until they were twenty-five!? Outrageous.

>>6220856
Haha, holy shit, with these dodgy-looking fucks our bottom-row boys look even more like a rival squad to the heroes. You've got to love it.

>>6220858
>no girl-kissing until 25
Brutal. What's the stance on boy-kissing?

>>6220858
The fun thing about crime is that it only exists if you get caught. Just don't kiss a girl who tattles.

>>6220863
Sairus is meant to be a comic relief weirdo, perhaps Sokaru can be his overly serious and humorless rival?

>>6220570
if you are still accepting submissions:
>Name
Crom Fletcher
>Can I post my own drawing/reference pic?
Yes.

feel free to change anything not setting appropriate

>>6220872
I will always be accepting boys and girls. But please either cut your character's hair or describe his eyes. There's never been a regulation for hair styles and there is a traditional form of dress that could part your hair. Thank you for your submission though!

>>6220871
If we go off aesthetics alone, I see these as the rival pairs.

>>6220872
...Sojourner?

>>6220872
>Background Info (Optional)
Youngest son to an affluent family, a spares spare.

>>6220871
Sokaru looks like the edgy "second" who begrudingly works with the protagonist.

No offense to Sairu, but if there's any role he looks like, it's the toady of the rival guy who cheers him on while hes doing fucked up shit

>>6220570
>>Can I submit more than one boy?
>I'd recommend against it because it might just slow me down, but there's no way for me to know if you have a different ID.
What if they are twins that are basically the same character, so you could just draw one of them once, copy the drawing and paste it a bit to the left?

>>Can I be a girl?
>I don't mind drawing cute girls but unfortunately you won't be going through what these boys will
What about a boy that LOOKS like a girl????

>>6220671
>>top row: heroic-looking protagonist lads
>>bottom row: edgy squad of rival-looking fuckers

>Our enemy nation packed to the brim with anime pretty boys and cool protag looking guys
>Meanwhile we're all just "Enemy opponent that the protag meets and kills the same episode" looking mfs
Honest to god love that to the max.

>>6220887
>What if they are twins that are basically the same character, so you could just draw one of them once, copy the drawing and paste it a bit to the left?
Sure, sounds fun. I think it'd be fun to also mirror their piebald features if you include it, especially if they have severe piebaldness, like one whole half is white.

>What about a boy that LOOKS like a girl????
Irrelevant. A boy is a boy, not matter how girly he looks.

>>6220887
>we're all just "Enemy opponent that the protag meets and kills the same episode" looking mfs
Well we're all on the same side nationally-speaking and, credit where it's due, I think we at least look like recurring antagonists. Like My Hero Academia's Class 1-B.

>>6220876
is this acceptable op?

>>6220898
>Beauty mark revealed.
More than acceptable.

>>6220892
>Sure, sounds fun. I think it'd be fun to also mirror their piebald features if you include it, especially if they have severe piebaldness, like one whole half is white.
Oh shit fr???? I was just low key joking when I asked that question and was going to do something else, but now that I know I can actually do it AND you find it interesting, well now I kinda really wanna do it.

Here is my own take on Sai

>>6220872
>>6220881
>Every man is only obligated to serve for the first five years of their manhood. But who makes up their officers? Career professionals of course. While nearly every man returns home to reintegrate into society, some take up the call to continue serving the Nation in a military capacity. These men are not only given immense respect when they return to the Country for periodic leave, but due to their professional obligation, they are also given privileges to not only serve abroad, but live abroad; with their wives and children where they are stationed making them somewhat of an oddball among the vast majority of the brave boys of the Nation. No son is obligated to continue their father's career, but they are most certainly pressured to. In fact, much of the upper echelon of the Army are staffed from an old order of petty nobility...

This character was drawn so well, not only in itself, but also in my style, I was tempted to just paste or trace it in! But I really needed to maintain a degree of consistency...

Much of the young men's first week at Sleepy Waters was essentially an individual assessment. All were required to participate in a series of physical tests, but everybody as active enough as youths to pass without a problem. What was harder was the skills aptitude test, which consisted of a series of written and practical tests, ranging from mathematics to mechanical repairs. The proficiency of these skills were under the responsibility of the community each young man grew up with, an investment for the futre workforce although for the Army, it was meant to assign each young man's labor job to feed back into the war machine. Almost everybody failed at least one, everybody passed at least one, showing that they have the ability to contribute to the Nation.

These were all boring compared to the marksmanship test, which the young men were most competetive with. It was also the test that Sleepy Waters were most encouraging and supportive in ensuring each man qualified as high as they could. Everybody has experience with shooting a firearm, especially boys. If not one's father, an uncle or cousin would take a boy to a local range to practice shooting. Even girls, who while were not meant to enter the same Youthful Journey as boys, still learned how to operate a firearm almost like it was a sport.

There was a new rifle being distributed throughout the army; the Breech-Loader. Nearly every boy played around with a Muzzle-Loader, so there was some extra time invested into their assessment to teach them how to operate the new Breech-Loader which reloaded at record speeds. Although everybody qualified for the traditional marksmanship examination, around half failed the Rapid Fire Assessment. Those who failed felt disappointed but they were reassured it would not affect their Youthful Journey; the Rapid Fire Assessment was simply an experiment for the Army. In fact, your coaches asked you many questions on how it handled and what confused you, what you would recommend etc.

>>6220863
>What's the stance on boy-kissing?
There is no mention of it in the Men's Code.

>>6220907
It is better to ask for forgiveness than to ask permission in my threads.

You boys will most certainly be serving in the same unit, not as enemies but as peers. Whether you hate or appreciate each other is up to you.

>>6220926
>in my style
Probably overthinking, but I meant to say close to my style, I honestly felt like pasting it in people wouldn't spot the difference at a first glance at least.

>>6220570
>Name
Mawaru/Wamaru Daburu
>Skin Complexion
Both have a ashy grayish dark skin tone
>Hair Color
Mawaru has long hair, parted in the middle right where it changes color, the left white pipald half covering his left eye, while the right black half is slicked back. Wamaru has the same but mirrored
>Eye Color
Both have heterochromia, where Mawaru has a white left iris and a black right iris, and Wamaru has a black left iris and a white right iris (Both white iris's is almost always covered by their hair)
>Ear Shape
Large, ending in points at the tips.
>Background Info
Both having been born to a high ranking military official, the twin brothers were raise in preparation for their 20th...Although this lifetime of training has establish a curtain "Confidence" in them that lets them see both the rules and their fellow soldier as a bit...lesser in their eyes (Calling their father just to strong arm having them share the same tag is more then enough evidence of that for crying out loud)

>>6220934
The foreign influence is strong in these two.

>>6220934
>Despite these boys' excellence in their assessments, their arrogance costed them dearly. They grew up abroad away from the normal lives of the Nation and were never taught to appreciate the labors of the common folk that supported everybody. Maybe it was the fault of their parents, but regardless, when Sleepy Waters witnessed the Daburu Brothers' arrogance, they were on sight immediately. Perhaps this was all their father's plan, such discipline is necessary to forge not only the most competent officer, but the most beloved among the common soldiery. After Initial Processing, how they navigate their first five years as men solely rests upon themselves alone.

***THE ENEMY***

Most boys did not quite understand the purpose of learning how to KILL KILL KILL THEM ALL while growing up. Sleepy Waters had the lecture they neeeded.

For the longest time, We were under the protection of the Emperor from the World Above. We were a small people, and those from the World Above were tall, what could We do? Sometimes the Emperor faltered and Our World was invaded by the Enemy. But someone, may it be one of the Emperor's agents or a relative, would rise to drive out the Enemy. It is for this reason why We worship the Emperor. Once, turmoil occured in the World Above, a Divine Conspiracy to oust the Emperor, Our Protector, from His rightful throne. We did not wish to impose Ourselves in the World Above, nor the World Below. But those from the World Above wished to impose themselves in Our World.

We were so lucky that those who imposed themselves on Us knew Us. At first We hosted them as the Great Turtle taught Us, and They soon became the land We belonged to. While We moved from Bell to Bell, Our new Guests became the land we belonged to. Thus they became Our Gracious Hosts.

The Emperor returned for Us to host in the land We belonged, and for Him to host Us in His Empire, not through Himself but through an Idol. All we surrendered was the Great Grove We built for them so many ages ago. From the World Above, many came to the Great Grove as We left. The Guests from Above did as they wished in the Great Grove so long as We were allowed to do as We pleased elsewhere.

One day, the Guests from Above began to despise Our Emperor. They thought they knew better than the Emperor, for it was for them whom them the Emperor ruled for. Who could ague against that? All was fair, so long as those Guests from the Great Grove did not decide what they could do in Our home.

Our Emperor, bless His Soul, the benevolent ruler He was, listened to His people. But Our Idol knew the treachery of such people, the Enemy from the World Above who lived in the Great Grove.

Our Idol told Us:

"They sing words of allowing you to make your own decisions for your lives. But they do not care about your lives. They want your lives to become a part of theirs. All the fields, the trees, the waters, the rocks, the stories you prescribe them, they do not care. They want you to tell them they are allowed there to do as they wish, but they will not allow you to tell them what your home means to you. Do not agree to this because if you do, they will seize your homes out of pretenses of fairness."

Thus, We came out to make Our desires known, We wish not Our home to be treated as objects. And thus, the Guests from Above felt betrayed. And they felt justified in eliminating Us. They murdered Our Idol...

>>6220858
>What do they mean they were not allowed to kiss a girl until they were twenty-five!? Outrageous.
Out of sight and there is no crime ;)

>>6220927
All these cool rifles! All so brand new! I'd love to see which type of crafter made such a great weapon.

>>6220988
I see...I have no idea of what you're talking about.

>>6221105
Hobbitland got colonized by way of broken land use treaties with human immigrants. That's how I read it, anyway.

>>6221105
I'm gonna say Communist Sprit People from the World Above who took over, want to overthrow The Emperor and also take our homes and lives, we refused then they killed our Idol Leader who is some kind of relation to the Emperor. Now we fight.

>>6221145
I got the vibe that the Idol was like our people's foremost representative to/from The Emperor, like a grand chieftain or a governor general.

>>6221105
>>6221143
>>6221145
>>6221168
It was very late when I wrote this >>6220988 and I wish I had waited until today to read and review. Oh well.

The Enemy despised Us. They despised Our Gracious Hosts, for the Enemy wished to make Us serve them instead. They despised Our belonging to the land, for the Enemy wished to take it from Us. They despised Our Memories, for they are forgetful creatures. The Enemy despised how small We were, for it made Us too different from them. The Enemy despised Us so much that they tried to erase Our Nation.

Even after murdering Our Idol, the Enemy sought to seize the Country to establish their authority. Our Tall Hosts rallied to protect Us and Our home, but alas the Enemy was many, pouring in from the Land Above. We ran ran for the hills and woods to escape the violence, abandoning Our Bells and Groves which the Enemy took as prize.

We hid for many years, for violence was not for Us to give, and was why We loved the Emperor and Our Gracious Hosts. But the Enemy took those away from Us. And then they came to take Our sons, Our forefathers. They turned Us into murderers for the violence they sought in the World Above, to commit against those who still loved the Emperor. They marched Us to the World Above for Us to die.

After executing the Nation's Idol and seizing the Country's Capital, a wave of Republican Revolutions spread across the rest of the Empire, provinces seceding into independent states, revolutionary armies rising, etc. The Republicans within the Country envisioned a Grand Republic to succeed the Empire and impressed young men of the Nation into their army to instigate an Empire-Wide civil war. Many of the young men present at the lecture have a grandfather or great-grandfather who served in this Grand Republican Army. Unfortunately, most of those who were impressed did not survive, as if the Grand Republic intended to eliminate the Nation's population.

***DECLARATION OF LOYALTY ~40 years ago***
The Enemy was as delusional as they were tyrannical. They committed all their violence in the name of liberty, equality, and fraternity, but all they brought was enslavement, oppression, and cruelty. After many years of murdering for the Enemy, their leader finally died and the Enemy shattered.

The World Above still loved the Emperor, and so did We, even when there was no Emperor to love. For as long as We could remember, Our songs were silenced to the World Above, the Emperor's ears being Our only audience. But there was no more Emperor. So We sang for the World to hear Us.

Although fighting against their own interests, the conscripted men developed military skills during their service in the Grand Republican Army, fighting Royalists they would have otherwise sided with. The Grand Republic won its civil war, but in trying to preserve the entirety of the Grand Republic instead of letting lesser Republics secede, it soon devolved into an oppressive and tyrannical regime with a dictator. When that dictator died, a power vacuum led to a power struggle between the Republicans. The Nation took this opportunity to recapture their Capital and oust all Republicans from the Country, rising in a revolt led by deserters of the Grand Republican Army.

***COUNTER REVOLUTIONS ~40-20 years ago***
We chased the Enemy Out of the Country, yet We still mourned for the loss of Our Idol and Our Emperor. We looked at the World Above and saw the rest of them too mourned for the Emperor. The Emperor had always listened to Our songs. Now We shall listen to His subjects' songs.

Although in the process of rebuilding the Country, the shattered Grand Republic was breaking into many factions, some were Royalists who wanted a return to the Empire. The Nation sent volunteers to support Royalist regimes despite not having a clear Emperor to rule should they succeed. Over the course of a couple decades, the Nation had rebuilt their country and was sending more and more soldiers every year throughout the former Empire to support Royalists and eliminate Republican Revolutionaries while waiting for an Emperor to claim the throne.

***COLD MARCH NORTH, ~20 years ago***
Near the end of the Counter Revolutions, the Enemy fled to the Empire's Northern Kingdoms, hiding like the cowards they were. The Lords and Peers of the Empire did not wish to chase the Enemy to the ends of the World, wishing to rebuild their homes and find an Emperor to claim the throne instead. We were on Our own, but We were restless. Thus We marched into the cold to finish the fight.

Republican Revolutionaries fled to the North to reorganize and build support and while the Nation wished to pursue and eliminate them once and for all, the rest of the Empire was not interested. The Nation did not have the Manpower to invade the North for it was but a small member of the Empire. One officer asked for only one legion of five thousand volunteers to come with him. He left during the next Winter Solstice.

_______________

I have a few more posts but it's getting late. I'll finish it tomorrow and we can proceed with your careers.

***THE SOVEREIGN MARSHAL***
We were not invited to decide the new Emperor as We were neither Lords nor Peers of the Emperor, but His wards. Our Idol whom We adored was the daughter of the Our Protector, a Peer of the Emperor though despite Her illustrious lineage, She was never worthy of Our worship according to the those from the World Above. With the murder of Our Idol at the hands of the Enemy, there was nobody eligible to become Our Protector, so the Lords and Peers had to elect an Emperor to grant Us one.

When the Enemy was among Us, the Lords and Peers were capable of working together, but without the Enemy and no Emperor, the Lords and Peers could not agree. Most conspired against Us to give concessions to the Enemy so that they may be appeased and not become so violent. We felt wronged for it was Us who suffered first and most from the Enemy as it was Our Country where the Enemy struck and seized first. We remember when the Enemy was given one concession, then two, and soon they felt entitled to enslave Us.

Before even an Emperor was elected, the Lords and Peers appointed Us a Protector to Us. We hosted him for only one night before he left to ignore Our songs, deciding to give concessions along with the majority of Lords and Peers. So We sang directly to the Lords and Peers, to let them know We did not consent to this Protector. Our singing was heard, and the Lords and Peers shattered just like the Enemy did. We were not ready to support Our friends.

And thus returned the officer who embarked on the Cold March North a few years prior with the Legion of Five-Thousand, delivering Us the salvation We needed!

The Legion of Five-Thousand returned with only half of what it departed with. Despite starting vastly outnumbered by the Pro-Democratization faction, the Legion of Five-Thousand moved too fast, forcing surrender upon the enemy, and regrouping with Royalist forces.

The Legion of Five-Thousand fought its way back to the Country, but We were eager to welcome them home so We marched to meet him in the middle. Their Marshal told Us: "Nobody but Us can guarantee Our lives. It is We alone who must assimilate, subjugate, or destroy Our enemies. Everybody is Our enemy."

The Nation began mobilizing all of its fighting-age men to crush any and all dissidents of Imperial Authority.

The Marshal's words were true. Everybody was Our Enemy. We gave Our trust to the Lords and Peers as We gave Our trust to the Emperor. But they betrayed Us as We were not convenient in their vision of the future. Since forever, We gave Our obedience to someone from the World Above to protect Us, so that We may live in peace, have children, watch them grow, and be remembered by Our children's children. But those dreams were unattainable so long as the World Above lorded over Us. No longer shall We beg for a Protector from the World Above. We shall become the Protector to the World Above.

As the Lords and Peers could not be trusted to find an Emperor, the Sovereign Marshal of the Legion of Five-Thousand found one for them all, declaring Our Idol the Eternal Empress.

It has been more than a decade since the Nation's Idol was declared the Eternal Empress. It would have been considered heresy, but nobody was arguing. The Nation's soldiers set out to help rebuild the Empire, maintain order, and spread the Nation's Memories.

GRADUATION

>The young men only stayed in Sleepy Waters for a whole month. It was something of a formal assessment for them, as many basic skills required to serve were already taught to them when they were boys. Throughout the assessments, they were taught how to drill, listening to commands and executing them immediately. At the end of the month, their scarlet uniforms final returned. They have been looking forward to this day since not when they arrived in Sleepy Waters, but when they were small children.

>On their last day in Sleepy Waters, the young men donned their scarlet uniforms, inspecting each other to ensure they had done it properly. They marched out into the sunny afternoon across the facility in near perfect rhythm. Off to the sides, their families watching from bleachers, proud to see their boys become men.

>>6221458
Let's get it on the road and finally see some real action.

>>6221458
Onward to glory, guys. We've gotta prove we're adults now.

>>6221458
Hey, it me!

>>6221454
>>6221457
>Nezu sees the wisdom in self-reliance, but then, even as an orphan he was never exactly 'alone"... Is the Nation all the family we need?

You know, this usually ends up being done by the QM, but...should "our boys" not, you know, interact with each other?

I don't know if we're supposed to actually be interacting ourselves or if that'll happen with the updates.

YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS

>The newly accepted young men were given a short time to celebrate with their families, picnicking together at the parade deck, introducing their parents to their new friends, and regaling their accomplishments during their month of assessment. Among families and friends, some of the young men were even propositioned by young women and older girls for marriage once they returned, and as no kissing was allowed, they had to be content with holding hands.

>As the sun slowly turned yellow from the setting sun, trains arrived to send the young men off to wherever the Nation needed them. Just as ten thousand boys become men every month, ten thousand men returned from abroad. These young men will fill in the boots of the many veterans returning home to begin their lives, hopefully as fathers to raise the next generation of soldiers.

>The young men removed their belongings from the barracks, cleaning it spotless just as they found them when they first arrived. Each were told which train to board and loaded their luggage accordingly. The young men discussed among themselves where they hoped to go and which arm they hoped to get. Infantry, the most common, was also most undesirable, although the few who wanted it took great pride in it, for they formed the backbone of the army. Many hoped to be satisfied with Artillery, close to the excitement but far enough from danger. Those descended from the Tall Hosts of the Nation's past hoped to be placed into the glorious Cavalry where they rightfully belonged.

>>6221024
>Before boarding one of the trains, this young man was tasked with personally delivering a letter to the commanding general of where he was being sent by one of the instructors. He was not told where he was heading nor who he was to deliver it to.

>>6221629
>Despite either fear or eagerness of action, it was well known that there has not been any major engagement for the past decade and a half. The Nation's men were primarily detailed with policing the Empire and supporting Lords and Peers who aligned with the Nation's interests. Most of the time, they were helping rebuild the Empire, constructing railroads throughout the land and developing infrastructure to extract the material needed to feed the Nation's economy and war machine. With the railroads completed and infrastructure developed, the Nation's young men have been conducting parades across the Empire, training local militia, and sending orphans home to the Country to be raised as a member of the Nation.

>Under a setting sun, the young men rode off to their new assignments, beginning their Youthful Journey in earnest. Their families gathered on the platform to wave their goodbyes and sing final farewells.

>>6221871
Go for it, in my previous threads on /tg/ anons were interacting with each other left and right and I've sometimes used it to segue into a story development.

>>6222036
Alright, roleplaying mode, then.
>Though the time of departure was a time of goodbyes, Kiro did not have such niceties. His only goodbyes were those of his parents, whom he knew well were simply glad to see him finally leave.
>It was no matter. He was a man at last, stronger than his peers, and through the jackboots of the infantry, he would get what he wished. He just had to put his arms to good use...

>>6222036
>Ichigo inspects the letter. While intrigued what it may be about, he senses it may be of importance. He hopes that, once arriving there, he may learn of its content.
>As he puts the letter away, Ichigo sees his family wave him goodbye. His father tells him to keep focus - something the young Tsuyama boy hears a lot. At least he can't lecture his ears off.
>He gives his classic peace sign as a goodbye message to his parents. Hearing the train ready his gears, Ichigo realizes a new chapter of his life has officially begun.
"No turning back anymore."

>>6222036
>Sairus spends the majority of the train ride trying to see how long of a trail of spit can he maintain in the wind before it breaks. His record so far is 4.3 feet.

>>6222597
Gross, but you have to respect the result.

>>6222597
How the hell'd you measure something translucent and moving against the wind with just your eyes?

>>6222602
Yellow eyes have special powers that only activate in the most useless circumstances

>>6222606
Nerd.

GREEN BATTERY, 21ST LEGION

>The train traveled overnight, stopping once in the middle of the night to recoal. The young men ended up sleeping on the trains, though as there were no beds or hammocks, most just slept where they sat, and as there was not enough seats, others had to sleep on the floor in their scarlet uniforms. It was the sort of sight that the Nation did not wish for Imperial citizens to see. After a total of 820 miles/1300 kilometers over the course of over 14 hours, with only only a few awake, the rest woke when barked at by their fellow Nationals outside, ordering the young men onboard to stop with their shameful displays and muster on the platform. The young men snapped awake and began daisy chaining their luggage out from the storage cabin and only once all the luggage was disembarked were they allowed to locate and collect them.

"Welcome to Japmi, little brothers. You're men of the 21st now."

>Japmi was a Royalist Kingdom during the Counter Revolutions far in the North at the edge of the Great Prairie. Because of this, the Nation didn't need to commit a large garrison to the already Anti-Republican state, but it was surrounded by former Republican strongholds. The Legions regularly rotated between the friendlier Japmi and its somewhat rebellious neighbors that continued to need frequent patrols of force, using Japmi as something of a training and R&R post.

>>6222578
>The young men marched in formation to their new home, an urban compound in the middle of Japmi's industrial district where they heard the clanging of iron and steel. They were received by their Commanding General, General Reigen Mugen, to be assigned to their unit. Ichigo's letter made it to General Reigen Mugen and upon reading it, he immediately assigned Ichigo and many random peers (all of (You)) to Green Battery as Artillerymen.

"You really like breaking guns apart and putting them back together, dontcha, son?" said General Reigen Mugen.

>Whatever trade they hoped to be assigned in this Journey, it appeared that they were now fated to become machinists, which was good as any job a respectable man could get.

>To help the young men settle in, they met with their Anikis, older brothers who arrived the previous year. Aniki Rento Renma took the lead in giving you all the run down after finding you spots in the squadbay, shared with the rest of the battery of around a hundred. Japmi had produced a new breech-loading field gun to replace the current National muzzle-loading field gun, and that their purpose at Japmi was to become not only the Nation's primary manufacturer, but also the first legion to incorporate the new weapon system.

>>6222606
>Young boys of the Nation often fantasized about having supernatural powers that sets them different from the rest of their peers. It's entirely normal and they usually grow out of it by the time they hit their final and most painful growthspurts.

>>6222704
>Nezu accepts his assignment with his usual sad acceptance of circumstances beyond his control, which is most circumstances. He proves less than innovative in his thinking, but hard-working and difficult to tire or bore, which makes him ideal when it comes to monotonous and repetitive tasks. He takes the opportunity to observe his fellow boys as he toils.