The Forlorn Hope

"Proof of the honoring of that Pact be herein accounted for by we, The Forlorn Hope."

A sullen and unruly crowd. It's any wonder Colonel Mornings got them to sign the wretched thing in the first place. Most couldn't sign their own name. They put "X"s. A multitude of "X"s filled the entire bottom of the paper. But legal consultation was present during the signing, as well as representation from the crown. So the lawmen in parliament would consider vocal testimony as solid fact. Each X sat beside a neatly scrawled name.

Some of them pointed, proclaiming that they recognized the symbols of their names from their Bills of Arrest and Sentencing. The Colonel insisted on scrawling "The Forlorn Hope" in the center of the web of "X"s.

It was not the Regiment's Name. That would be the 24th Levy Shock Regiment. It was a descriptor, a title. It meant 'bastard', 'criminal'. It meant 'dead convicts'. Which was not trouble on the contemporary government, such as it was. Empress Ketryn was a good ruler, for what time she ruled in. But situations of disaster forced ruthlessness from am otherwise generous hand.

Afterwards, the notary was copied at a press, those copies were given to the Colonel and Brother Patrick of the order of Saint Hoover. The good brother dutifully took into account every event which followed. He unfortunately died on the dreadful docks. A cannonball took him. But miraculously, the book remained. Another good brother took up his place and continued the account.

Inside this book is the detailed story of a band of criminals forced together from their hellish cells to fight in defense of Immortal Ueldrescha.

Compiled alongside are contemporary histories regarding the political situations and important individuals, such as the training and leadership staff supplemented by the Regulars, Ameenian Sister Erin Palani, and the bold and clever Colonel Harrison Mornings.

For devils they were, but heroes will they always be.