text: Marching into the desert without a grand plan other than simple slaughter isn't much of a plan. The usksha are nomads anyway, you'd never be able to catch all of them in their home turf.
  
  "No, I believe we've taken care of the major problem, but I think you should stay here and oversee the safety of this town now. We'll head back to Fort Glory and report the situation." You tell Delan.
  
  As you pack up and start to leave, Edgar begins to complain.
  
  "What are we doing? We should be trying to hunt down the rest of the usksha!"
  "Our mission here is done, the usksha have been defeated. If we get ordered to mount an expedition into the desert then we shall do so."
  "Bah! Anu is probably going to assign us to fight kobolds again! We should be taking the initiative!"
  "It seems every time you take the initiative, I end up having to help you in some way. I'd recommend that you worry less about fighting and more about your combat techniques."
  
  At this point Edgar gets noticeably mad, but says nothing and walks off. You're starting to get slightly concerned about him. You'd rather not have to teach him a lesson like you did when you were still training under Mistress.
  
  When you arrive at Fort Glory and report to Captain Anu he's pleased with what you've accomplished and is impressed. He says he'd like to keep you here to finish up wiping out the kobold infestation, but he's received word from the top that your team is to be transferred elsewhere.
  
  "Where are we going sir?"
  "The Rask frontier and I don't mind saying I don't envy you."
  "I've heard of the place before. What is the situation there?"
  "Bad, worse and downright horrible. As far as I know the Empire has been trying to establish order there for decades and not making any progress."
  "Captain, I certainly hope you don't make it a habit of saying disparaging things about the Empire." A man says walking into the room. It's Mr. Mol.
  "Uh no sir. Sorry sir." Captain Anu says sheepishly.
  
  Mr. Mol overlooks his comments and speaks to you directly.
  
  "Ignore the captain's words, everyone exaggerates the situation at the Rask frontier. While the area is having some problems, the fact remains if it really was so bad there, we would've pulled out a long time ago. Anyway, congratulations on your latest mission. Couldn't help overhearing your report in the next room, quite impressive. Which makes me believe it was a good idea to transfer you now."
  "The Eternals are ready to serve the Emperor wherever he may need us sir." You say.
  "And the Emperor will always appreciate your service. He has been watching you, you know. He always is. That is why he believes you would be most effective apart from each other."
  "Sir?"
  "You are Eternals, m'boy. You were bred to lead as well as fight. You've already proven yourself to be able to do both, but your fellow Eternals will never reach their fullest potential if they live under your shadow. All of you will be separated and given your own commands in territories the Emperor needs you the most. I have no doubt you all will be successful and honor the Emperor with your future victories."
  "W..we will sir, but you said territories. Are we not all being sent to the Rask frontier?"
  "Oh I think the captain misunderstood. A few of you are being sent there, but some of you are staying here, and others are yet being sent elsewhere. Here, here's your orders, you can inform the rest of your team, I'm sure they'll be excited to hear this news too, oh and consider yourself promoted to lieutenant. The rest of your team members will probably be promoted to sergeant rank when they officially get their assignments. I think that's about it. A caravan will be here to transfer some of you to your new assignments in a few days. Good day."
  
  As Mr. Mol goes walking out the office, you feel a little strange. Your team has been together so long, it feels weird to know that you're going to be split apart.
  
  "Sorry for the wrong information, I thought all of you would be sent to the Rask frontier. Well I guess I'm glad to know some of your are staying, heh... are you okay?" Captain Anu asks.
  "Huh? Oh yes. I'm okay captain. If you'll excuse me I have to inform my team of their new assignments."
  "Certainly. Dismissed."
  
  You inform your team of the news and there is a mixture of feelings. There is some excitement of gaining their own commands, but are still a little apprehensive about splitting up. Well all of them except Edgar who seems to be solely overjoyed that he's getting his own command.
  
  "Okay, Roldan and Brenda, you're staying here."
  "Damn, I was hoping I'd at least get to go some place different." Brenda says.
  "Make no mistake, this area still needs order established. I believe you and Roldan will do a fine job in continuing the reputation of excellence that we have built here."
  
  You continue with the list.
  
  "Gerald and Warrick, you're being assigned along the Felkan border. Apparently the non-aggression treaty the Empire had with the Felkan Kingdom has expired and tensions have been high. War with them may even break out."
  "Interesting. Well if war does break out, we'll be the first one to show the Felkans the error of defying the Emperor's mercy." Warrick says.
  "Yeah, yeah! Let's get on with it, where am I going?" Edgar interrupts.
  
  You glare at Edgar and then continue.
  
  "You, Kane and I are all being sent to the Rask frontier."
  "As it should be. My skills were going to waste here."
  "Edgar, I'm going to say this while I'm still your superior. I certainly hope you realize that this isn't a game and you'll prove yourself to be a competent leader."
  "Hey, I'm just as much of a leader as you are! The difference is I take risks and that will be a trait that will necessary in a place like the Rask frontier! I will rise up in the ranks and bring honor to the name Eternal and glory to the Emperor!"
  "You mean glory to yourself because you feel like you have something to prove." You say.
  "And you don't? You're a hypocrite anyway! Always were ever since we trained under Mistress! I still recall you begging for your life to her as she crushed you under her boot. From that day on you were always trying to prove yourself and beating the bloody pulp out everyone."
  "And as I recall you were on that end several times Edgar. Is that why you're still trying to prove yourself?"
  "You wanna try that now?" Edgar says getting in your face and at this point all of your fellow Eternals intervene to break up a potential fight.
  
  "Hey come on you guys! We can't be seen fighting each other like this! We're Eternals, we put all that stuff behind us back in training. We're professionals and supposed to be setting the example for the Empire!" Roldan says.
  
  Edgar brushes himself and backs off.
  
  "Tell you what Roldan. You set the example for the Empire. All of you set the example. In the meantime, I'll be scoring victories and actually serving the Emperor by conquering land in his name."
  
  And with these last words, he takes his leave all of you.
  
  The last few days together are a little awkward with what transpired between you and Edgar. Still you say your goodbyes to Roldan and Brenda when the caravan comes.
  
  A few days after that, you then say your goodbyes to Warrick and Gerald.
  
  You, Edgar and Kane sit in silence for the remainder of the trip. Eventually you arrive at the Rask frontier and make your stop at Fort Destiny. You haven't gotten off the caravan five minutes when a woman wearing battle armor approaches you.
  
  "Hey are you the Eternals?"
  "Yes we are."
  "I'm Captain Krozer, I've heard a lot about you and wanted to meet you personally. Welcome to hell."
  
  Captain Krozer begins to give you a run down on the entire area. She mentions that the mortality rate here is high so morale isn't the best, but she hopes that you and the other Eternals assigned here can rally some sort hope here again.
  
  Captain Krozer also goes on to tell you that there's been a slight change of plans in your assignments. She says that you're still staying here, but that Kane and Edgar are going to Fort Defiance, which is further north. Probably for the best considering what transpired between you and Edgar.
  
  Kane nods a dignified goodbye to you, and gets back on the caravan; Edgar of course isn't as pleasant and gives you a hostile glare before leaving.
  
  With the caravan leaving, you head to your new unit. When you see them, quite a few of them are predictably much older than you, but surprisingly you see that half of them are around your age.
  
  "So, you're one those Eternals huh?" one the older soldiers says almost dismissively. You're in no mood to warn anyone this time, so you go straight to the point and throw him to the floor with his arm painfully twisted behind his back.
  "Correct, and you'll address me as sir or lieutenant if you want to keep this arm, because it'll be very hard to continue doing your duty for the Emperor with just a stump. Understand?"
  "Argh. Y..yes sir!"
  
  And so begins your assignment in the Rask frontier.
  > rask Frontier (History Lesson)
  Much like the Nalin province, Rask is on the outskirts of the Empire, except to the north rather than the south. It's a cold, snowy land made up of a lot of mountain ranges and long stretches of forests. It's also rich with resources and the Empire has made great strides in building mines and lumber mills here.
  
  The Empire's been attempting to tame this area for decades, but its history here hasn't been the best, as it almost seems that it is fighting the very natural order of things here. The environment is harsh all by itself, but when you add in the various denizens that live there, it makes things even more difficult.
  
  Several vicious barbarian tribes live here some of which carry various "conditions" that allow them to turn into beasts such as wolves or bears. Elves who have managed to escape the shadow of the Empire have made their homes here as well. The worst of the lot are the numerous ogre tribes and giants that live here, fortunately they stick further north, but every once in awhile they wander further south and cause trouble.
  
  The military presence is strong here, but isn't as well supported like it should be and as a result it can only do so much. Svelk mercs are usually used to bolster the ranks a bit, but they're not something the various fort commanders like to use. There are even a few battle mages, elite orc troops and Shadow Guard stationed here, though they are mostly further north where the ogres and giants are the problem.
  
  Another problem is the citizens themselves, for whatever reason the citizens in Rask tend to have a more independent mindset. Many that live here see themselves as pioneers taming the land despite the fact that if it wasn't for the Empire, most of them would've been massacred, raped, or eaten by now. In any event, they're more likely to openly criticize the government and its gotten to the point where most of the military barely bothers to do anything about it. They've got so many other concerns that unless the plebes are openly rioting, a few mouthy peasants don't even rank on the countless list of dangers in Rask.