BACKGROUND
Ostlake is a word that causes confusion for non-Morelanders, it is a lake, a city and a complex of four military bases connected by tunnels and waterways across the Lake. It is the central hub for the East Moreland military as the lake connects to the sea by the river Ost which is navigable by river even by aircraft carrier. Every year it hosts a kind of inter-military Olympic Games, known as the Ostlake Military Games, this sees teams drawn from the five East Moreland Army Legions (Royal, People, Duke, Pegasus & Hunter), the Air Force, the Navy, Cyber Legion and Red Legion. In recent years these teams have been joined by visiting teams, this year Neu Uburzis, Seaforth and Nya Aland join the games.
The Games sell tickets to all events and as well as the sporting events themselves the city hosts nightly entertainment in addition to the many bars, cafes and clubs that exist. The competitors stay at Ostlake South, the largest of the bases in a mixture of barrack blocks and tents, no spectators are permitted at Ostlake South unless invited by an officer from one of the competing forces.
It was for the Morelanders a familiar walk, the small cross lake Ferry station to Ostlake old market square, take the right back to the lakeside and into the Ostlake West barracks where the majority of the Games would take place. A large grandstand had been erected at the base at their rugby pitch which would later in the day host the Rugby 7's. The 12 teams began amassing themselves in what was usually the large car park and down the road, the competitors each arranged behind their units standard and then behind various regimental banners from within the Legions. Red Legion as always would lead the way being the oldest of the East Moreland units, the legion wasn't usually represented by serving members but rather those who had left within the last five years and where technically still liable to be called up, there were a handful of "desk pilots" too, Red Legionnaires who had been injured and told their front line days where done. Among them was Cpl. Paul Abrahams, first he'd damaged his throat on active duty in the Alps all but losing his voice, that hadn't stopped him serving a further three years until he lost his lower leg in the Eugenics War, now he was in an armourer and shooting instructor. He checked his famous Red jacket and removed a small feather that had drifted down in the wind.
"PARADE!" A loud voice filled the air as a tall flame haired Sergeant Major yelled. Instinctively thousands of ears listened for the next order, "PARADE 'SHUN" he yelled and with one loud sound that echoed off the hills everyone came to attention. He issued a series of instructions and in no time 12 squads of around 150 people each where formed up. "PARADE! BY THE RIGHT, QUICK....MARCH" The parade began to move off down the road passing the various crowds that had gathered to greet the teams, many spectators wore off duty items of regimental attire showing their support for their mates competing. The Combined Forces band played a variety of marching tunes as they wound their way through the city streets and past the market square. There in the centre was a giant statue of Jekar, each unit gave an eyes right as they passed and one representative from each Morelander unit smartly placed a wreath in their units colours at its feet. As the gates of the base came into view some of the crowds where left behind as only those with tickets and invites could pass beyond this point.
Once on the base they filed into the Rugby arena and formed up. In the VIP box the King would normally have accepted the general salute but he was with Pegasus Legion as he was representing them in the Legionnaire Legacy events, that would mean Princess Freya would fill in, but she was two ranks behind her big brother. That would leave Archduchess Sophie to represent them, but in the second to last Morelander unit the Air Force Pilot Officer was marching with her new friends. That then meant Prime Minister Henrietta Quinn was left to accompany Princess Rhiannon who accepted the salute with well rehearsed slow bow which once completed turned into a wave as she spotted her father.
Various other VIP's from across Mundus had arrived to watch the games which were a major event in the East Moreland calender and as soon as the parade was over and the games declared open people began to mingle. Morelanders looked for old friends among the Alanders and Seaforthians as the team from Neu Uburzis gained their bearings. Some of the competitors with no events that day made their way towards the nearest beer tent while others headed back into town. King David made his way to his daughter as he planned on taking her to watch the football, a sport not massively popular in East Moreland but one she seemed to have some interest in at least. Within the hour the rugby arena was full of fans as the first game got underway.
