Les Petites Bêtes Soyeuses

** Join the QOC **
Gentleman of Paris, if you are new to the city or are looking for a new Regiment, then you can do no better than join the Queen's Own Carabiniers.
Please contact me for more details, and some financial help is available.
† Count Thyme

Aide sought: Apply Cuckpowder.

Vacancies exist for both officers and men in France's Premier Regiment.
Apply to Colonel Beau Reese Jean Seine at RFG Regimental HQ.
Financial assistance available for suitable candidates.
† BRJS

But not any more. † Le Roi

To the Soldiers of the 3rd Army,
 I have been granted the honour of commanding this army, both during the training seasons and, I expect, at the front come summer. In order that I may get to know the soldiers of the army, I will be hosting all soldiers serving in any capacity within the 3rd army at my club during the 3rd week of October. Companion ladies are also welcome. All costs paid.
    Yours,
† B. General Jacques Hatt

In honour of my fallen friend, comrade and trusted aide, Yve Stanbul, I will hold a memorial dinner during week 2.
All gentlemen and their ladies are invited to join Maggie Nifisent and me to raise a glass in his memory.
(All refreshments paid for by host.)
† Marquis Louis Renault

To: Field Marshal Count Jacques de Gain
From: Brevet General Count Ben e'Volence
Subject: Application for the Position of Army Commander
My Lord Count,
I write to you with the highest respect and a sincere sense of duty to submit my application for the position of Army Commander.
Throughout the course of my military career, I have had the privilege of serving in and commanding some of the most distinguished formations in our army. These include the Crown Prince Cuirassiers, whose gallantry remains the envy of the cavalry arm; the Heavy Brigade, with whom I forged a reputation for decisive, disciplined action under fire; and, more recently, the Cavalry Division, which I have led through some of its most challenging and rewarding campaigns to date.
My military record includes thirty Mentions in Dispatches-each one a testament not only to my own contribution but also to the excellence of the soldiers under my command. I am also proud to hold one of the highest Military Ability ratings in the army, something I hope reflects both strategic judgement and operational effectiveness in equal measure.
Beyond battlefield credentials, I am in a position to offer a Level 9 influence, which I would gladly commit in support of any appointment you might choose to advance yourself. Should my application prove unsuccessful, please know that I remain wholly at your service and will lend my full support to any candidate you deem fit to lead.
In closing, I wish to assure you that my commitment to the service of the Crown, and to the continued excellence of our armed forces, remains absolute. I would be honoured to bring my experience and abilities to bear as Army Commander, and to work closely with you in furthering our shared military aims.
    With the highest regard and unwavering loyalty,
† Brevet General Count Ben e'Volence

Cher Ben,
I was shocked to learn that you only have thirty Mentions in Dispatches. I was similarly shocked to learn that you believe your Military Ability to be one of the highest in the army. You would need to double both to compete with my record.
That said, I guess that you have to start somewhere, and, given I have four applicants for three army commander positions, you will probably get one. After all, your military judgements are still significantly better than Marquis Shaw (and whilst the Marquis has applied to be an army commander, I suspect his heart isn't in that application and he would prefer to retain his role as Chancellor of the Exchequer).
    Your humble servant,
† de Gain

Why, oh why does everyone choose the same week to hold their parties... 

Preparing for his return to Paris, Jean d'Aubergine looked out the window at the shambling forces of the 3rd Foot Brigade, now on the march home. The mud had been rising all week. His uniform was now stained up to his knees, where before the brown tide had only crested his ankles. He opened the small silk-lined box again, the only object not covered in slime; the epaulettes hadn't grown any since the last time he looked at them. Breveted in the rank of Brigadier-General was some comfort, albeit only a temporary one. "Now I can at last buy new boots" he murmured stupidly to himself, "one for the left and one for the right, this time. And if this position persists, perhaps they can even be made to match one another. Now, what exactly does a Brevet Brigadier do?"

Footloose in Paris... Jusin Saad sighs heavily.

Scars of the Soul Part 2
1 His hands, they shook, though skies were clear,
A phantom's whisper lingered near.
The boy who left had lost his place,
Replaced by one with sorrow's face.
2 Yet in the silence of the night,
A flicker stirred, a fragile light.
For though the scars ran jagged,
Deep, a seed of hope began to creep.
3 He learned to build from ashes grey,
To craft anew from war's decay.
Though darkness walked beside his tread,
He chose to live, though part was dead.
4 For war may steal and break apart,
But still he held a soldier's heart.
Resilient, scarred, and battle-worn,
A man reborn where once was torn.
† CPL

When can their glory fade?
O the lengthy siege they laid!
The low countries wondered
Honour the charge they made!
Bags of Dutch loot displayed,
The Netherlands were plundered
† SdS