15th of Goodmonth

The group grimly prepares themselves as they see fit for the upcoming battle. Sabrina tells Pandora to wear here chain shirt, but Pandora insists that she be allowed to wear her leather. Sabrina relents, with the Admonition that Pandora stay close to the party. Leon grabs his trusty axe. Jarel straps on his Bastard Sword.

The trudge out to the designation muster area to await Lady Titania's orders. They note that the other March is all in uniform, but the full import of this does not dawn upon any of them.
Lady Titania arrives to inspect the troops and issue the day's orders. She mounts the podium and spends a moment looking down at her feet, apparently composing herself. Then she looks up at the waiting faces and her eyes lock on the First March of St. Jostema. Her jaw drops open and her face begins to glow bright red. She shouts, "Guard Lieutenant Cohen! Here! NOW!" The veins are standing out in her neck and forehead.
As Cohen rushes to her, she shouts, "What is THIS?!" Her hand makes a sweeping gesture towards the First March of St. Jostema.
"Us?" cries Pandora incredulously.
"Hey! I'm in uniform," pipes up the ever-eager to please Brent.
"What?" says Pandora, still not understanding.
Sabrina says, "I thought we had our uniforms. Our purple cloaks and stuff."
Guard Lietenant Cohen mounts the podium to see what Lady Titania is gesturing at and what the commotion is about. He looks to the troops and his face suddenly goes very pale.
He blusters, "Master Marchman Jarel! Front and center."
Jarel walks forward to stand before Guard Lieutenant Cohen.
"What is the meaning of this?" asks Cohen. His voice comes out a bit more imploring than demanding, and Lady Titania shoots him a quick, hard look, then looks back to Jarel with expectation.
"Go ahead, Jarel. Tell her why you are dressed like that, " says Cohen.
"We were given the freedom to wear what we wish," starts Jarel. Cohen closes his eyes in anticipation for the rest of what is about to be said.
"Given the freedom by whom?" demands Lady Titania.
"My commanding officer," states Jarel.
Lady Titania turns to Cohen. "And that would be you, would it not, Guard Lieutenant Cohen?"
"Yes," says Cohen with a sigh. "It's true."
Pandora whispers, "Thanks, Jarel." But it is only loud enough for Sabrina and Brent to hear her.
"So..." says Lady Titania, starting off slow but gaining speed as she begins to see the situation. "You have decided that the regulations mean nothing and that this group can dress themselves however they want?
"I've been dressing myself for awhile now," says Jarel.
Lady Titania whirls on Jarel and states very sternly, "I didn't ask!"
"What wrong with our..." begins Sabrina, but Lady Titania cuts her off as she turns back on Cohen and says in a voice of military command, "Guard Lieutenant Cohen! You are relieved of duty. Turn in your badge and your sword." She turns toward Sabrina and says, "And you! No talking in the ranks! This is not what I expect from Prelatal Army units! This is completely unauthorized!"
"Who is your second in command?" she demands of Jarel.
"Leon," answers Jarel.
Lady Titania looks to the First March and asks, "Leon, do you approve of this unconventional..." She stops as Leon takes a step forward and she sees how he is dressed. "Obviously you do! You're carrying an axe into battle!"
"I've got my sword as well," says Leon.
"And you seemed the only oen in this group with any sense!" Lady Titania says in a dismayed voice.
The first March of St. Jostema seems to finally realize they have committed an error. They look each other up and down and check out the uniforms of the Second March across from them.
"Milady?" Leon says.
"Permission to speak," grants Lady Titania.
"We all have certain virtues," begins Leon. "And to this end we are essentially..."
"So does eveyone in my unit," interrupts Lady Titania. She indicates the Second March of St. Jostema, saying, "So does eveyone in this unit. But they are following regulation and wearing the uniform. Is that too much trouble for this group? And the fact that Guard Lieutenant Cohen has given you outright permission to dress as you see fit I am relieving him of duty. Obviously he is unfit to run this outfit."
"I think he had the best interest of the town in mind," says Pandora.
"I did not ask for your opinion, Private Pandora!" shouts Lady Titania.
"Yes, but you're not our leader," says Sabrina matter-of-factly. In an afterthought of perhaps giving the illusion of respect she adds, "Ma'am."
"I am now!" says Lady Titania loudly. "As Guard Lieutenant Cohen's Superior, and with him being relieved of duty.."
"Well, then Jarel is next for being in charge," says Sabrina, somewhat hotly.
"Jarel very well may be stripped of his duty as well," argues Lady Titania.
Sabrina manages to hold back the word that comes to her lips next, much to her credit.
"I was surprised enough to see the Second March in chain shirts and not half plate when they were running maneuvers the other day," Lady Titania sighs. "But at that time, Guard Lietenant Cohen explained that the chain shirts were all this unit could afford. And that is acceptable. But what is going on with your unit is COMPLETELY unacceptable."
"Well, now we don't have to go and fight the bear," says Sabrina.
"We shall go and change," drawls Leon.
"It does not matter," says Lady Titania, growing warm under her platemail again. "You must wear the unifrom and be part of the Prelatal Army. This individuality has no place in the Prelatal Army!"
"Well, that wasn't our understanding, Ma'am," says Sabrina.
"Granted, there are"Well," says Pandora, making a hand-washing motion. "Good luck with the whole bear thing."
"We can afford longswords?" asks Leon. "I thought we could only afford shortswords, so I brought Grandpa's axe."
"Guard Lieutenant Cohen!" orders Lady Titatina. "Do you not have enough longswords for everyone in the armory?"
Cohen hangs his head as things get deeper. "Yes," he says. "I do."
The battle with the infected, talking bear ends with the death of Preece and Lance, while the party is dishorably discharged for not following regulations. Guard Lieutenant Cohen is relieved of command for his deliberate circumvention of established regulations.