![[allies-on-the-front.png]] *Added to the Codex on* ***October 29th, 2024*** --- ### Quotes "Some are insisting upon the appearance of mysterious rings of flame and ominous writing heralding a 'covenant of fire' amidst the carnage" - 1944 News Article "I wasn't watching men fight that night. I was watching demons." - Anonymous "The fires of resistance continue to burn in the snowy forests of Bastogne." - 1944 News Article <br> ### Description [[Codex/Specialists/Rasheed Zain|ZAIN:]] The papers picked up on this one fast. [[Pyotr "Boris" Guskovsky|BORIS:]] They always seem to. ZAIN: Seems like a normal enough report... if you're not paying attention. BORIS: Let me have a read. I could use a break. --- Allied Forces Continue to Hold in Bastogne, New Allies Approach the Front December 27, 1944 - Bastogne, Belgium A shocking new development has sowed confusion amongst our weary warriors in Europe. A new, unfamiliar unit has joined the battle on the front in Belgium. Where they come from remains unknown, but these "Butchers of Bastogne," as they have been dubbed by local troops, have shown devastating efficiency against German troops. Bastogne has been a key focus point for the Allies during this Battle of the Bulge, with American troops holding the line against the brutal siege of Bastogne. The 101st Airborne Division has garnered much acclaim from many Allied forces for their sheer strength against adversity. Reports we have received describe the unit of "Butchers" to be a small but lethal force, tearing the Germans and the battlefield itself asunder. Some are insisting upon the appearance of mysterious rings of flame and ominous writing heralding a [[Covenant of Fire|"covenant of fire"]] amidst the carnage, however these claims have yet to be substantiated. The role these Butchers will play going forward is not clear, but they remain in Bastogne for reasons we are unable to confirm at this time. "I saw them fighting right in front of me." Said one soldier who preferred to remain anonymous. "I wasn't watching men fight that night. I was watching demons." Allied and American command have yet to comment on the Butchers of Bastogne beyond reports of boosted troop morale. Some we have spoken to think them to be a top-secret combat unit, while others hold to the superstition of a more otherworldly origin. While the battle in Belgium rages on, for the troops in Bastogne at least, a reprieve has been granted. As the storm and fog disperse, Allied reinforcements make their way to bolster the slim forces that have held strong for so long. We may yet see a positive turn in this brutal conflict. Whether this "elite unit" becomes a greater part of that conflict remains to be seen. The fires of resistance continue to burn in the snowy forests of Bastogne, that much is clear. --- BORIS: What sort of nightmare is this? What do they mean by otherworldly? ZAIN: This entire operation is bizarre. Why not the news too? BORIS: Say what you will about the state of our news, but at least it's not drowning in witchcraft. ZAIN: Is that what you think this is? BORIS: Whatever it is, I like it less and less by the minute.