#The Siege of Loyalty House

[verecunda]

Somewhat amusing side-effect of reading about an era that I'm not usually into - in this case, the English Civil War - is that any prior knowledge I do have is almost certainly derived from Horrible Histories. Case in point: upon encountering a mention of Sir Arthur Aston, my immediate reaction is: "Ohhh yeah, he's the guy who was beaten to death with his own wooden leg, wasn't he?" I don't know a thing about this man's life or career, but I do know that. XD

[morgan--reads]

Summary: A history of the sieges against Basing House during the first English Civil War. 

Quote: “That God was angry with his people was evident. But whose side was he on and what did he want—peace or more blood?”

My rating: 3.5/5.0   Goodreads: 4.07/5.0 

Review: An engaging and well-written account of a dramatic series of events in the English Civil War. If you don’t have any background knowledge of the Civil War, this might be a bit of a reach. Childs does give some background information but the focus is truly on Basing House, a microhistory that gives a lot of insight into the devastation and the difficulties of the war. Childs sticks closely to the sources, which makes for rigorous history, but also means that there is an emotional distance between the reader and the people who lived the history, as we don’t have diaries or letters for most of them. There are lots of interesting, and sometimes bizarre, details that light up the story, but the human element is sometimes missing.

[novaursa]

The Flames We Carry

- Summary: Ser Criston Cole expected for Rhaenys and Meleys to appear over Rook's Rest. To Gwayne's horror, Rhaenyra sent her sister instead: you.

- Paring: targ!reader/Gwayne Hightower

- Note: reader is referred to as Y/N, is Rhaeyra's younger sister and is bonded to Silverwing. These events happen after Skyfall. If you want to read all the parts in chronological order visit my blog, the list is pinned to the top.

- Rating: Mature 16+ (there is no adult content, but there are visual descriptions of violence, blood and gore)

- Word count: 3 712

- A/N: this was scheduled to be posted tomorrow, but I've decided post extra today. Enjoy.

- Tag(s): @deniixlovezelda @duck-duck-goose2 @aadu2173 @sachaa-ff

Ser Gwayne Hightower had always been a man torn between loyalty and desire, but never more so than in the days leading up to the siege at Rook's Rest. The tension between him and Ser Criston Cole had grown sharper since that fateful day when he let you—the Princess, Y/N—slip through his grasp before their march on Duskendale. He could still feel the warmth of your skin against his, the taste of your lips lingering like a ghostly memory, a sweet torment. You had been his time and time again, even if only in stolen moments, and each encounter had deepened the scars on his heart.

Gwayne knew he should be focusing on the battle ahead, yet his thoughts strayed back to you, his mind replaying that night over and over. The look in your eyes when you realized he would let you go, when you understood the depth of his feelings despite all the bitterness that lingered between your Houses. He had set you free, knowing full well it was an act of treason in all but name, and yet he would do it again if it meant sparing you the horrors to come.

But now, at Rook's Rest, everything was escalating rapidly. Ser Criston's scorpion ballistas and archers were poised in ambush, waiting for the dragon they expected: Rhaenys on Meleys. The war council had been clear, and Gwayne had heard it all through gritted teeth—Aemond and Aegon would flank her on Vhagar and Sunfyre, trapping her in dragonfire and steel. It was a ruthless plan, one that made his stomach churn. He had sworn to protect his family, his king, and yet all he could think about was you.

The skies darkened, a shadow sweeping over the encampment. The men tensed, eyes raised to the heavens as the flap of wings grew louder. Gwayne’s heart pounded in his chest as he looked up, expecting the crimson scales of Meleys. But what he saw instead made his blood run cold.

Silverwing.

The graceful, silvery-grey dragon, once ridden by Queen Alysanne, now bonded to you. Gwayne’s heart twisted painfully in his chest. This was not supposed to happen. It was not supposed to be you in the skies above, facing down two monstrous dragons with only the loyal Silverwing at your side. Panic clawed at his throat, his mind racing. He could see it in Criston's eyes too—the slight widening, the realization that their ambush had just become a slaughter. Not for Rhaenys, but for you.

“No…” The word slipped from Gwayne’s lips before he could stop it. Without a second thought, he rushed toward the nearest scorpion, where soldiers prepared to take aim at Silverwing. His vision tunneled, anger and fear boiling together in his veins. He couldn’t let this happen—not to you.

"Stand down!" Gwayne shouted at the soldiers, shoving one aside with enough force to send the man sprawling. The crew looked at him in confusion, but Gwayne didn’t care. He grabbed hold of the crank, making it impossible for them to load the bolt.

“What in the Seven Hells are you doing?!” Criston’s voice was a venomous hiss as he stalked toward Gwayne, eyes blazing with fury. “You’re sabotaging the plan! Move, or I’ll have you—”

Gwayne spun around, his hand already on the hilt of his sword. “I won’t let you do this, Criston. Not to her.”

Criston’s lip curled in disgust. “Her? You would betray your king, your House, for a traitorous whore who—"

The sound of steel rang out as Gwayne drew his sword, slashing at the scorpion mechanism, rendering it useless. The soldiers scattered, unwilling to get caught in the confrontation between two knights who had both earned their deadly reputations. Criston’s eyes narrowed, and in the blink of an eye, his sword was in his hand, the tip leveled at Gwayne’s chest.

“You’ll die for this treachery, Hightower,” Criston spat, the words laced with venom.

“I would die a thousand times before I let you kill her,” Gwayne growled back, his voice low and dangerous. “I won’t let you harm her.”

Above them, the roar of dragons filled the air as Silverwing engaged with Sunfyre and Vhagar. Dragonfire crackled like thunder, the heat from the flames casting an eerie glow over the battlefield. You were up there, fighting for your life, for your cause. Gwayne’s heart ached with every fiery burst, knowing that each moment could be your last.

Criston lunged, and Gwayne barely parried the strike in time. The two knights clashed, steel against steel, each strike filled with desperation and fury. Gwayne fought with everything he had, driven by the need to protect you, even if it meant cutting down one of his own.

“Do you think she cares for you, Gwayne?!” Criston taunted between strikes. “She’s a dragonrider, a princess—she’ll never be yours! You’re a fool!”

“I know what I am,” Gwayne snarled, knocking Criston’s sword aside and slamming his shoulder into the other man’s chest, sending him stumbling back. “But I also know what I feel. And I’ll not stand by and let you murder her.”

Criston recovered quickly, rage twisting his features as he advanced again. “She chose Daemon over you! The Rogue Prince—do you think she’ll remember your name when she’s ash?”

Gwayne roared in fury, his blade a blur as he pressed the attack. The sounds of battle, of dragons shrieking and flames roaring, were deafening, but all Gwayne could hear was the pounding of his own heart, the desperate need to get to you, to save you. But with every second that passed, his hope dwindled, and fear gnawed at the edges of his resolve.

Then, the ground trembled, a shockwave of heat and force rippling across the battlefield as a massive burst of dragonfire erupted nearby. Gwayne staggered, the distraction costing him as Criston’s sword sliced across his side. Pain flared, but he gritted his teeth, refusing to fall. He couldn’t afford to fall—not when you needed him.

But as the flames subsided, a silhouette emerged through the smoke—Silverwing, descending, with you astride her. Your eyes, burning with determination and fury, locked onto the scene below: Criston standing over a wounded Gwayne, ready to deliver the killing blow.

“Y/N!” Gwayne shouted, his voice raw with desperation.

You didn’t hesitate. With a command, Silverwing unleashed a torrent of dragonfire, forcing Criston to leap back, narrowly avoiding being consumed by the flames. In the brief reprieve, Gwayne stumbled to his feet, clutching his side.

Your gaze met his, and for a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath. The memory of that last kiss, of your shared moments, hung between you like an unspoken vow. Gwayne knew he had only seconds before the battle resumed, but in those few heartbeats, he saw the truth in your eyes—the love that had never truly died, the bond that still connected you, even through war and betrayal.

But there was no time for words. With a final, lingering look, you turned Silverwing toward the sky, preparing for the next wave of the fight. And as you ascended into the chaos once more, Gwayne knew he would fight until his last breath to protect you, even if the whole world stood against him.The battle raged on, but in that moment, Gwayne Hightower’s heart belonged to only one—you.

The battlefield below Rook’s Rest was a symphony of chaos and death, the sky a canvas painted with fire and blood. Gwayne could only watch in helpless agony as you and Silverwing clashed in the heavens with Sunfyre and Aegon, two dragons locked in a deadly dance of tooth and claw. Overhead, the monstrous shadow of Vhagar circled like a vulture, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Every screech of agony, every roar of defiance, was a knife twisting deeper into Gwayne’s chest.

On the ground, Criston Cole barked orders, his eyes fixed on the battle above. The soldiers scrambled, trying to reload the scorpions, but the dragonfire raining down made their task near impossible. Bolts flew haphazardly, striking neither dragon nor rider, only adding to the carnage below as men screamed, burning alive in dragonflame. Gwayne’s heart pounded in his ears, but he couldn’t tear his gaze away from the clash in the sky.

Silverwing and Sunfyre circled each other in a blur of flashing claws and snapping jaws, the air thick with the scent of burning flesh and blood. Gwayne could see the desperation in the way you leaned into every attack, urging Silverwing forward with a fury that matched his own. Aegon, though armored in golden scales and atop his mighty Sunfyre, was losing ground; he was not the rider you were, and Sunfyre, for all his pride, was no match for Silverwing’s speed and power.

“Hold fast, Sunfyre!” Aegon’s voice cut through the air, laced with both command and fear. But the king’s bravado was slipping. The once-proud Sunfyre shrieked in pain as Silverwing’s talons raked across his side, tearing through scales and flesh. Blood sprayed like rain, glistening in the sunlight before falling onto Criston’s soldiers below, causing them to scatter in panic.

Gwayne could feel his grip tightening on his sword as he watched, torn between the desire to cheer for your victory and the dread that this battle would consume you. Criston, standing nearby, had forgotten Gwayne entirely, his eyes alight with a mixture of awe and hatred. “If Sunfyre falls, so falls our king,” Criston muttered to himself, though Gwayne could hear the edge of panic in his voice.

But you would not give Sunfyre a moment of reprieve. Silverwing descended with fury, slamming into the golden beast with the force of a hurricane. The clash was brutal, teeth and claws tearing through scales, blood and fire mingling as the two dragons grappled. Sunfyre roared, a cry filled with both pain and rage, as Silverwing’s jaws clamped down on his wing.

“No!” Aegon’s scream echoed across the battlefield, his eyes wide with disbelief as Silverwing’s powerful muscles twisted and tore, shredding Sunfyre’s wing almost completely from its body. The golden dragon thrashed wildly, his flight faltering as the wing dangled uselessly by a thread of sinew and bone.

Gwayne’s breath caught in his throat, torn between elation and horror. You were winning, but at what cost? He knew what was coming next. Vhagar, that ancient beast of war, had been waiting for this moment. With a bellow that shook the very ground, the monstrous she-dragon descended like a nightmare from the skies, her jaws wide and hungry.

“Look out!” Gwayne shouted, knowing full well you couldn’t hear him from so far below. His heart thundered in his chest as Vhagar slammed into both Silverwing and Sunfyre with the force of a landslide. The three dragons collided in a tangle of limbs, scales, and teeth, a storm of rage and destruction. The impact was so fierce that Gwayne felt the ground shudder beneath him.

“No! No, no, no…” Gwayne whispered, his voice cracking as he watched the entangled dragons plummet toward the earth. You and Aegon were mere shadows against the backdrop of fire and smoke, barely visible as the dragons twisted and fell in a deadly spiral. Criston’s soldiers, caught between the descending juggernauts and their own fear, broke ranks, fleeing in every direction as the ground rushed up to meet the falling beasts.

Gwayne felt a cold dread settle in his bones as he watched you, desperately holding onto Silverwing’s saddle as the world blurred around you. You clung on with a ferocity that spoke to your will to survive, but against Vhagar’s ancient fury and Sunfyre’s desperate thrashing, even the mighty Silverwing was struggling.

Criston’s eyes were wild as he watched the battle unfold, his voice a harsh whisper of disbelief. “Vhagar will end it… she must end it…”

But Gwayne wasn’t watching Vhagar anymore. He was watching you. You were still fighting, still urging Silverwing to fight back, but the odds were overwhelming. Sunfyre’s golden scales were slick with blood, his roars more pitiful now as he struggled to right himself in the air. Silverwing’s wings beat furiously, trying to break free from Vhagar’s crushing grip, but the elder dragon’s jaws clamped down on Silverwing’s neck, dragging all three dragons toward the ground with terrifying speed.

The earth shook as the three dragons smashed into the battlefield, the impact sending up a cloud of dirt and debris. The sound was deafening—a sickening crunch of bone and screech of metal as the dragons collided with the earth. Gwayne’s heart dropped into his stomach, his eyes searching desperately through the smoke and dust for any sign of you.

“No…” he whispered, stumbling forward as if he could somehow reach you, somehow pull you from the wreckage of dragons and death. But even from here, he could see the carnage—Silverwing’s body twisted and battered, Sunfyre writhing in agony, and Vhagar looming above them all, a monstrous shadow of death.

For a heartbeat, the battlefield fell silent, every eye fixed on the wreckage of the fallen dragons. Gwayne’s breath was ragged, his eyes straining to catch a glimpse of you amidst the chaos. The dust began to settle, revealing broken bodies, shattered armor, and the mangled forms of the dragons.

And then he saw you—barely visible, still moving. You crawled from beneath Silverwing’s wing, blood streaking your face, your expression fierce even in the face of such overwhelming odds. Gwayne’s heart leaped into his throat. You were alive. Against all the odds, you had survived the fall.

But the battle was far from over. Vhagar’s malevolent eyes fixed on you, a deep rumble echoing from her throat as she prepared to finish what she had started. Aegon, still clinging to the last shreds of his pride, shouted commands to Sunfyre, but the once-majestic dragon was crippled, struggling even to rise.

Gwayne turned to Criston, his voice hoarse with desperation. “Do something! Call them off—she’ll be slaughtered!”

But Criston’s eyes were cold, devoid of mercy. “It’s too late, Hightower. She made her choice.”

Before Gwayne could respond, a deafening roar split the air as Vhagar reared back, ready to unleash a final torrent of fire upon you and Silverwing. Gwayne’s breath caught, knowing he was powerless to stop what was coming. All he could do was watch in helpless horror as the monstrous she-dragon prepared to strike.

But in those last moments, your eyes locked onto his. Even from across the battlefield, Gwayne saw the fire in your gaze—the unyielding determination, the refusal to surrender, even in the face of certain death. It was a look that would be seared into his memory forever.

And as Vhagar’s jaws parted, ready to unleash death upon the field, Gwayne did the only thing he could—he prayed. For you, for Silverwing, and for the love that had been forged in the fires of war.

It felt like time itself had slowed, the moments stretching into agonizing eternity. His breath hitched as the flames began to build in Vhagar’s throat, the light of impending destruction flickering in her maw. It would be over in seconds—everything would be lost.

But then, with a burst of speed that took even Gwayne by surprise, Silverwing jolted forward, her wings beating with desperate strength. As Vhagar’s jaws parted to unleash her fiery death, Silverwing struck. The smaller, silvery dragon lunged at Vhagar’s exposed throat, her teeth sinking into the tender scales. Her bite was unrelenting, fueled by both fury and the need to protect you. Vhagar’s flame sputtered out in a roar of agony, the ancient beast thrashing wildly as she tried to shake off the determined Silverwing.

Gwayne’s eyes widened in awe and terror. Silverwing’s tail snapped like a whip, striking Vhagar’s head with a force that reverberated across the battlefield. The blow landed squarely on Vhagar’s eye, the sound of bone and scale cracking sickeningly loud. The she-dragon’s roar of pain was a monstrous, guttural cry that seemed to shake the heavens. Even Aemond, usually so composed in battle, shouted in fury and alarm, yanking hard on the reins to regain control of his wounded dragon.

Gwayne knew he had only moments to act. Blood was streaming down your face, and even from a distance, he could see the exhaustion and pain etched into your features. You laid on the ground, barely holding on to life as Silverwing thrashed against Vhagar’s deadly strength. It was a miracle you had survived this long, but that miracle was on the brink of shattering. Gwayne’s decision was made in an instant, despite the searing pain in his side and the chaos around him.

Nearby, a riderless horse whinnied in terror, its eyes rolling as it tried to flee the madness. Gwayne gritted his teeth, limping toward the panicked creature. “Easy, girl,” he rasped, wincing with every step. The horse reared, wild with fear, but Gwayne moved with surprising swiftness, grasping the reins and swinging himself into the saddle with a grunt of pain. Blood stained his tunic from his earlier wound, but he forced himself to push through it. There was no time to dwell on it—not when you were up there, fighting for your life.

“Where are you going, you fool?!” Criston’s voice rang out behind him, filled with fury. “You’ll die, Hightower! Come back!”

But Gwayne was deaf to Criston’s commands. He spurred the horse forward, urging it toward the burning wreckage of dragons, toward you. The horse resisted at first, terrified by the scent of blood and fire, but Gwayne was relentless, guiding it with strong hands and determined resolve. The animal finally obeyed, its hooves pounding against the earth as it charged through the smoke and debris.

Criston cursed behind him, and Gwayne heard the clatter of armor as the Lord Commander sprinted after him, but Gwayne didn’t care. All that mattered was reaching you.

Above, the struggle between Silverwing and Vhagar intensified. Aemond’s curses mingled with the roars of his dragon as he tried to force Vhagar to tear herself free, but Silverwing was like a vice, her jaws locked onto Vhagar’s throat. The she-dragon’s great wings buffeted the air, but even Vhagar, with all her size and strength, was struggling against the tenacity of her smaller opponent. Silverwing’s wings were shredded, her silvery scales bloodied, but she refused to let go. She was holding on not just for herself, but for you.

“Y/N!” Gwayne’s shout cut through the chaos as he neared the spot where you lay half-alive below Silverwing’s wing. He could see that you were barely conscious, your grip weak on your sword as you fought to stay awake. Desperation fueled his every move as he urged the horse closer, reaching out to you. “Hold on! I’m coming!”

Through the haze of pain, you blinked up at him, your eyes unfocused. “Gwayne?” Your voice was faint, tinged with disbelief. “You… you shouldn’t be here…”

“I’m not leaving you!” Gwayne snapped, his voice rough with emotion. With a final burst of strength, he dismounted down beside you, reaching for your arm. The moment his hand grasped yours, you seemed to come back to life, your eyes clearing just enough to recognize him fully.

“Gwayne… you need to run,” you gasped, wincing as another jolt of pain coursed through you. “She’s going to kill us all…”

“Not today,” he vowed, pulling up with him and onto his horse. You were light in his arms, weakened from battle and injury, but there was still a flicker of the fierce spirit he had always admired in you. “I’ll get you out of here, I swear it.”

Criston’s voice was closer now, filled with anger. “Hightower, you’ll be executed for this!” he roared, but Gwayne didn’t even spare him a glance. He dug his heels into the horse’s flanks, and the animal surged forward, carrying you both away from the hellish scene behind you.

As the horse galloped across the field, Gwayne glanced back over his shoulder just in time to see the moment when Silverwing’s strength finally gave out. Vhagar’s claws found purchase, tearing deep into Silverwing’s side, and with a heart-wrenching cry, the silver dragon was forced to release her grip. Vhagar reared up, triumphant and bloodied, but the cost of the battle was clear—her eye was ruined, her scales cracked and bleeding. Silverwing collapsed onto the battlefield, her wings crumpling beneath her, but even then, she snarled defiantly, refusing to bow.

But there was no more fight left in her. Gwayne’s heart broke as he watched the light fade from Silverwing’s eyes, her body slumping in exhaustion. Aemond’s laughter echoed through the sky, dark and cruel, as he urged Vhagar to take the final blow. But before Vhagar could finish her fallen opponent, Gwayne’s eyes caught the movement of Criston as he halted his pursuit.

“Cole!” Aegon’s voice was a ragged gasp, filled with pain and panic. The king lay on the battlefield, unmoving, his once-golden armor scorched and twisted from the flames. His face was barely recognizable, the flesh blistered and raw, his body wracked with agony. Criston’s eyes widened in horror as he realized what had happened—their king was grievously injured, possibly dying. All thoughts of pursuing Gwayne and you evaporated as Criston sprinted toward Aegon, screaming orders for a healer.

Gwayne tightened his hold on you as the horse raced away from the carnage, his heart pounding with a mix of fear and determination. You clung to him weakly, your breath shallow, your strength fading fast. “Stay with me, Y/N,” he urged, his voice trembling with barely contained desperation. “Just hold on a little longer. We’ll find safety. I won’t let you die.”

Your eyes fluttered, and for a brief moment, you leaned your head against his chest, your voice a faint whisper. “You saved me… again…”

Gwayne’s throat tightened, his emotions threatening to spill over. “And I’ll keep saving you, no matter what it costs,” he promised, pressing a fierce kiss to your temple as the wind whipped through your hair. “I’m not losing you. Not today, not ever.”

Behind them, the battle raged on, but for Gwayne, the only thing that mattered was the woman in his arms and the fragile hope that somehow, despite everything, they would both live to see another day.

[lizzie-queenofmeigas]

Visenya is the eldest child, and the couple was meant to rule together. Which they do, essentially, at first. Aegon listens to Visenya but he is still the figurehead of king, the final authority, the only one people call “conqueror”, and while she is queen, she is just a consort. Which is fine, and I truly believe she was satisfied with her role, until Rhaenys’ death and Aegon then deciding to stop the siege in Dorne. She is denied revenge and she sees weakness in him. A weakness he will teach Aenys (who already was sickly). It’s then she decides the next generation will need her which is why she gave birth to Maegor and raised him at her image (we can discuss how exaggerated his cruelty is as a child due to who he becomes later, but it’s clear he shares the sense of loyalty to his brother). Visenya then sees Rhaena as the rightful heir, and she suggests uniting the two lines. Maegor as a consort for Rhaena, which would be him performing her role as Rhaena performed Aegon the Conqueror’s but she is denied. Then Maegor marries and its the beginning of his decline. Later, she sees how Rhaena is the dominant figure while Aegon the Uncrowned resembles Aenys, and the response of the Faith to their wedding says it all. Rhaena is strong and proud but she doesn’t assert herself as Visenya did. Maegor was a council to Aenys, a protector, as she had been, but Aenys sent him away for poligamy, saying a second marriage is void and his only wife is the first.

Which in turn denies Maegor his very claim to the throne. Visenya is not just the oldest and the one who is willing to go the extra mile to make things clear, but she is the first wife. By denying her son to belong in the realm she helped build due to something previously accepted — a second wife. Aenys was the oldest, but he was the second wife’s son. Then he died and she recognize that Aegon the Uncrowned would not be able to fight against the Faith so she brought Maegor. She lost a lot for that legacy, and if there was an extra reason for the conquest, she needed to protect it. Her siblings are dead, she is the only one left. I feel though, while Maegor was already ruthless and also felt betrayed by Aenys, the turning point is his near death. Dark magic accentuated his violence and paranoia (which most likely began with getting dismissed by his brother, who he admired and also was raised to protect and serve). He questions what Visenya taught him, about loyalty to their house and her death is the final straw. But Visenya was clearly a pragmatist. It was about their house, not their family, although her presence still protected the others. Her decision in bringing Maegor back by all means also came from a need of seeing the job done. She had wanted to send a message before, they were not to be opposed, and it all goes back to her and Aegon’s breaking point. She saw weakness in him for not giving her the right to avenge Rhaenys, she saw it on Aenys, Rhaena was denied, establishing previous pattern, Maegor was denied, and then she saw the same on Aegon the Uncrowned. Time to act when she still could.

Exactly.

[cienie-isengardu]

Bi-Han & Kenshi

I’m curious - if people think Bi-Han is the scum for breaking centuries old tradition of Lin Kuei’s servitude to Liu Kang and Earthrealm, do they also think Kenshi is a bastard for trying to break out his clan from Yakuza? Both men were raised in clans that supposedly pledged its loyalty to someone - Lin Kuei to Liu Kang/Earthrealm, clan Taira renamed as Takahashi to the Bakuto (Yakuza) and both at some point decided their people deserves better and waged war against their superiors to free their respective clans. 

I’m pretty sure some of fans may be outraged how I could compare Liu Kang to Yakuza but the thing is, so far story mode and tie-in material didn’t show much suggesting Lin Kuei’s relationship with Fire Lord was based on genuine friendship or even mutual respect. There is nothing even remotely close to how Liu Kang addressed Sindel or interacted with Royal Family and his Champions. Bi-Han’s title of Grandmaster is never used by Liu Kang, Tomas is never acknowledged either alongside his brothers (chapter 1) nor as Kuai Liang’s second in command in regard to Shirai Ryu (last chapter). Kuai Liang is not part of the final meeting between Liu Kang and his champions even though he led a major attack on the enemy's forces when Fire Lord was busy with his own task. Literally all story mode the Lin Kuei brothers’ interaction with Liu Kang is about them doing his bidding and nothing more. Considering the implication that

A) Umgadi system was Liu Kang’s own innovation (as stated in Geras vs Tanya intro dialogue) and said system is based on taking away a little girls from their families and indoctrinating them into loyal warriors whose main goal is to uphold Royal Family’s regime over Outworld 

B) Umgadi system and Lin Kuei has a lot pallares to each other, world-building wise

I can see why Bi-Han claims Earthrealm - and by extension Liu Kang, doesn’t deserve his loyalty.

Sindel: With one act, you betrayed two realms. Sub-Zero: Neither deserved my loyalty.

Ironically, from Kenshi and Johnny Cage's talk about history of Taira clan, we can conclude that Kenshi’s forefathers actually benefited from Yakuza, as it was Yakuza that provided them protection when every other noble house wanted them dead:

Johnny: "Four hundred years ago the Taira clan were one of Japan's first families. They lost Sento after getting slaughtered at the Siege of Aomori." Kenshi: "There were survivors. They hid themselves by shedding the name Taira for Takahashi. They joined the Bakuto for its protection." Johnny: The Yakuza's predecessors... From first family to crime family."

What is more, Kenshi’s backstory is not “Yakuza threaten my family and I must act to save them” but he was part of japanese criminal organization (implied by the tattoos on his body) that had a change of heart once he fell in love: 

Scorpion: Who was it that set you on the righteous path? Kenshi: Her name was Suchin.

and who needed to reclaim family ancient sword, Sento, because without it, he did not have full support of his people:

Kenshi (story mode): "I will break us free of the Yakuza's corruption. Reclaim our name and our position. But my clan won't follow me unless I prove that I can lead. That's why I need Sento."

Ironically, at this moment, sources strongly imply Lin Kuei - with exception of Kuai Liang and Tomas - willingly support Bi-Han and the breaking up with Liu Kang/Earthrealm. And like Scorpion suggested in story mode, some members like Sektor and Cyrax would still choose Bi-Han over the him or tradition, even when knowing that Sub-Zero let his own father die. Kenshi, on other hand, needs first to win over his own clan, which may imply that a great number of his family is not willing to either leave the Yakuza or lost its protection.

And sure, we may argue about morality of characters and organizations to which they belonged (Liu Kang’s protectors of Earthrealm and Yakuza), but it won’t change the fact that narrative wise, the story arc of Bi-Han and Kenshi is structurally the same. 

They served someone (Liu Kang/Earthrealm, leaders of Yakuza) to whom their respective clans pledged their loyalty centuries ago until something made them question their life and current political and economic state of their clans. In case of Kenshi, it was Suchin, in case of Bi-Han the reason is unknown yet the growing frustration didn’t come out of nowhere. Both took the first available offer that possibly could advance their cause after the just-meet strangers proved they have means to fulfill their promises (Liu Kang’s showcase of fire power, Shang Tsung presenting Dragon Army). And once they waged the war against their former bosses, none of them is willing to return to things as they were - whatever others approve or not. And as intro dialogues imply, their actions cost people’s lives.

Liu Kang: Your actions cost lives, Bi-Han! Sub-Zero: They were in the Lin Kuei's best interests.

and

Liu Kang: Your war on the underworld is taking innocent lives. Kenshi: Am I to blame for my enemy's wanton violence?

And apparently, both made alliances with people considered as criminal, cruel and/or dangerous to Earthrealm. Like Bi-Han’s alliance with Shang Tsung, General Shao and Nitara while Kenshi, according to intro dialogues, is involved with Black Dragons:

Geras: You have been warned about the Black Dragon. Kenshi: Don't worry. I know what I'm doing.

or

Kenshi: My war on the Yakuza has a new ally. Scorpion: You cannot trust the Black Dragon, Kenshi.

Through intro dialogues, BIO and story mode, we may even notice similar patterns in goals of Bi-Han and Kenshi. As in, them wishing to make their clan independent and finally out of the shadows:

KENSHI:

(story mode): "I will break us free of the Yakuza's corruption. Reclaim our name and our position. 

and

(story mode): "Not dead. Hiding. With Sento in my hands, I'll lead us out of the shadows."

or

BIO: "Once one of ancient Japan's most honored families, the Takahashis were decimated in battle. They lost everything, including the emblem of their power: the revered sword, Sento. Those who survived joined the Bakuto, a predecessor of the Yakuza, for its protection. Five centuries later, Kenshi is raised on the stories of his ancient family's exploits. Detesting his corrupt Yakuza life, he pines to free the Takahashis from the Yakuza's grasp and restore their name. But for his family to follow him, Kenshi must first fight to prove that he can lead. His first battle is to find and retrieve Sento."

Bi-Han

Mortal Kombat 1: "As the Lin Kuei's Grandmaster, Sub-Zero leads his ancient warrior clan in defense of Earthrealm from external threats. For centuries, it has been their solemn task. But Earthrealm hasn't been threatened in generations, and Sub-Zero see no point in limiting his clan to preparing for dangers that may never come. Under his leadership, the Lin Kuei will come out of the shadows and fight for its place as one of Earthrealm's great nations."

and

Sub-Zero: I've gained the Lin Kuei's freedom. Smoke: You've only earned them infamy.

Among other intro dialogues

or

Sub-Zero’s MK1 Ending: "I had broken the Lin Kuei free of Liu Kang's enslavement. We were now masters of our destiny and could take our place among Earthrealm's greatest nations [...]."

Which is why I’m curious - if people judge Bi-Han as “evil” for breaking up with what he considered an enslavement or exploitation of his family and clan, do they see Kenshi in the same light? Or is Kenshi by virtue of siding with Liu Kang the good guy and Sub-Zero is scorned because of his broken relationship with brothers more than anything else?

(Though if to support Bi-Han you need to bash Kuai Liang then please, don’t. If there is one thing that sources proved us about the Lin Kuei brothers is that both are dutiful men who put duty above the bloodties - and sadly their sense of duties isn’t compatible anymore.)

[whencyclopedia]

Legions of Pannonia

Located west of the Danube, Pannonia was essential for the protection of the Roman Empire's eastern frontier. It had been occupied since 9 BCE but did not willingly accept Roman authority. Pannonia and Dalmatia revolted in 6 CE, and it would take three years and a total of eleven legions to finally bring Roman victory in 9 CE. To ensure peace, four legions were assigned to Pannonia: X Gemina, XIV Gemina, I Adiutrix, and II Adiutrix.

The Pannonian Revolt

After years of conflict with Rome, Pannonia had finally fallen under Roman control in 9 BCE. The uneasy peace that followed would not last long. After the Roman commander and future emperor Tiberius (r. 14-37 CE) withdrew legions from Pannonia and Dalmatia for his Germanic campaign in 5 CE, the two provinces seized the opportunity to rise up and revolt. The Pannonian rebel army struck first, marching into Macedonia. Meanwhile, Dalmatian rebels began to raid neighboring towns, attacking Roman auxiliaries and massacring Roman citizens. With this initial success, more and more Dalmatians joined in the cause. Eventually, the rebels would number over 200,000 – one-fourth of their combined population. Although surrounded by the rebellious army, the governor of Dalmatia, Marcus Messalinus, and cohorts of the 20th legion were able to rout the rebels. After the Pannonians laid siege to Sirmium (in modern Serbia), the governor of Moesia, Caecina Severus, and his legions marched westward to meet the Pannonian commander and his army and defeated him.

With the Dalmatian attack on Salonae (in modern Croatia) and much of the Adriatic coast in rebel control, panic across Italy forced the Roman emperor Augustus (r. 27 BCE - 14 CE) to recall Tiberius. With Legio VIII Augusta, Legio XI Hispana, Legio XIV Gemina Martia Victrix, Legio XV Apollinaris, and cohorts of the Legio XX, he marched into the rebelling provinces. In addition to Tiberius, Augustus sent the young Germanicus (15 BCE - 19 CE) to the Balkans with a force of evocati and non-citizen troops. Meanwhile, Aulus Caecina Severus and Plautius Silvanus arrived from the East with five legions. In total, the Roman army numbered 10 legions, 70 cohorts of auxiliary, 14 cavalry wings, and 10,000 evocati.

The Pannonians abandoned their plan to march on Rome, and the Dalmatian commander grew suspicious of his counterpart's loyalty to the cause. The Pannonian leader was captured, put on trial, found guilty, and executed. After this, the Roman army laid siege to several Dalmatian towns. Casualties were high on both sides, and it took one-third of the Roman army to finally suppress the uprising. Before the Dalmatian commander was led off to live the remainder of his life in house arrest, he had one final comment, blaming Rome for the war: "We are your flocks, yet you didn’t send shepherds to look after us, you sent wolves." (quoted in Dando-Collins, 234) Writing years later, the historian Suetonius (c. 69 - c. 130/140 CE) wrote in his biography of Tiberius about the seriousness of the rebellion. He said the revolt "proved to be the most bitterly fought of all foreign wars since Rome had defeated Carthage" (Twelve Caesars, 114).

In his The Complete Roman Legions, historian Nigel Pollard places four legions permanently in Pannonia:

Legio X Gemina

Legio XIV Gemina

Legio I Adiutrix

Legio II Adiutrix

Continue reading...

[nolofinweanweek]

Nolofinwëan week is starting in 2 weeks!

Below are some inspirational, nonmandatory prompts for your creations. These suggestions are formatted as questions because they are meant simply to inspire you. Featured timeframes and characters can be mixed and matched in whatever way or disrespected completely.

Day 1: Noontide of Valinor - Darkening | Fingolfin | Anairë

Canon offers only hints about the Noontide of Valinor, a pre-canonical era that established many relationships and events we see unfolding in the Silmarillion. How did Fingolfin and Anairë meet? What kind of childhood experiences did Fingon, Turgon, Aredhel and Argon have? What was their relationship with the families of Fëanor and Finarfin? Were Fingolfin and Fëanor always at odds? How did the interference of Melkor disrupt these relationships? What events developed after Fëanor's banishment to Formenos and Fingolfin's rule in Tirion? How do you envision the Darkening of Valinor?

Day 2: Exile - Arrival to Beleriand | Fingon | Argon | Elenwë

The Flight of the Noldor is a breaking moment, a crisis that brings about some of the most challenging moments for Fingolfin and his family. Can you illustrate the argument that brought about the decision to leave Valinor? What effect did Fingon's participation at Alqualondë have? What were the relationships between the hosts of Fingolfin and Finrod on the Helcaraxë? What was Argon's or Elenwë's story before their passing? How do you interpret the rising of the Moon and the Sun with the host's arrival to Middle-earth? What about that glorious moment when the host challenges Morgoth at his gates?

Day 3: Mithrim - The Long Peace | Turgon | Aredhel | Eöl

The early days of Mithrim solidified the House of Fingolfin as the next line of Noldorin Kings, followed by a 200-year-long siege of Angband. What were the early political relationships between the hosts of Fingolfin and the Fëanorian followers? What prompted Turgon to build Vinyamar and then Gondolin? What was Aredhel's life like in Gondolin before leaving? What kind of new friendships were developed during the Long Peace? Did any reconciliations take place? What were the Nolofinwëan fortresses like during peaceful times? What was the Nolofinwëan relationship like with the local Sindar Elves?

Day 4: Dagor Bragollach - War of Wrath | Idril | Maeglin | Tuor | Eärendil | Elwing

The Battle of Sudden Flame brings another turmoil with the death of Fingolfin and the rising of Fingon as the new High King. This is the beginning of a turbulent period that will culminate with the sinking of Beleriand. How do you imagine these battles? What is your reading of Fingon's Kingship? How do you envision the relationships between the House of Fingolfin and their mortal allies, the House of Hador? What kind of culture did Gondolin develop in its isolation? What brought about the strained relationship between Idril and Maeglin, and how did it affect loyalties in Gondolin? What happened to Gondolin's refugees? What was Idril and Tuor's final fate? How do you imagine Sirion and its multicultural population?

Day 5: Lindon - War of the Ring | Elrond | Elros | Gil-galad | Celebrían

The War of Wrath destroys Beleriand, but the line of Fingolfin goes on through his descendants. How do you imagine the begging of a new life in Lindon? What is your reading of the parentage of Gil-galad? What was his kingship like? What was the relationship between the Peredhil twins? What led to their decision to choose different fates? What kind of culture developed in Lindon, Númenór, Rivendell or other settlements ruled by Nolofinwëan descendants? How did the events from the first age affect relationships in the second and third?

Day 6: Fourth Age Middle-earth - Return to Valinor | Númenórean descendants | Peredhil descendants

The Fourth Age signified the end of the Elven era in Middle-earth and the end of Tolkien's canon. What about your own ideas for this time frame? How does Gondor change under Aragorn and Arwen's rule? Who are their children? What kind of culture develops as the Elves leave Middle-earth? What about the Elves who return or are reborn in Valinor? Can they integrate easily into the place they once called home? Is Valinor even a physical place?

Day 7: AUs, Canon divergences, Freeform | Nolofinwëan OCs | Canon ghosts | Earlier canonical characters

This is a day to let the muses run wild with canon. Do you want to go down deep rabbit holes on obscure canonical details discarded in the published Silmarillion? Have a Nolofinwëan original character that needs a space to shine? What if Fingolfin won the battle against Morgoth? Who was Erien, daughter of Fingon? What if Idril returned Maeglin's love? Who was Elros' wife? What if Elrond decided to choose a mortal fate? Who would the Nolofinwëans be in modern times?

The event directory is accessible here.

[p0orbaby]

Hey so i was thinking… can you write a story where reader and Alicent are lovers and reader is there to comfort Alicent when Viserys dies and advise her not to tell Otto or anybody about what Viserys said and just let Rhaenyra gets the throne? You could add Daemon slander too i love it lol just make sure that Reader tells Rhaenyra none of them trust Daemon and he could harm Alicent’s children. I just need someone on Ali’s side and protecting her children since nobody cares 😔

-👺

Loyalty

warnings: death, one mention of spicy times

a/n: I forgot how much I liked writing for the Westeros universe

word count: 441

There was silence behind the walls of the Red keep. Death had arrived in King's Landing.

It was an inevitable conclusion with Viserys’ state. And though the Gods gifted him with one last meal with his family, it seemed to snuff out the final flame he had burning within.

You were amongst the first to find out. Alicent having come straight to your chambers when it happened. She cried of course, but not out of love, out of relief. Confessing the King's dying words to you between gasps and cotton sheets.

You kissed away her tears in the glow of the moon.

Ser Criston was given the go ahead to summon the small council upon your orders. You had Alicent swear to you not to tell another soul of what she heard. If her father found out Viserys’ intentions for who’d grace the throne after him, he’d stop at nothing to make it happen.

Rightful heir or not, Aegon wasn’t ready to be King. All Aegon wanted to do was drink sweet wine and fuck girls. He’d bring down the downfall of the realm, and his House along with it.

It shall be Rhaenerya who will rule over the kingdoms. The Princess of Dragonstone is not a name worthy enough of a woman who befits a Queen.

The crows sent messages the following morning. Dragons returned to the castle during the hour of the nightingale. The flapping of their wings wasn’t heard over the sound of your lovers moans.

“The Greens are agreeable with this?” Rhaenyra asked.

“It doesn’t matter what they agree with or not. Your father named you heir, and you’ll sit on that throne like he wanted you to.” There was a pause as you decided if you should speak your next words. “But you need to keep Daemon on a tight leash”

The Queen smirked at you, “he’s not a hound”

“No, he’s not. He’s a dragon. And we don’t trust him”

The shutters rattled in the winds outside. The hearth crackled and bellowed in anger. It was as if the Gods were trying to warn you of something.

“Her children will be fine. He wants power, I’ll give him enough of it to stay satisfied. Another siege in the stepstones perhaps”

“Ruling isn’t a game, Rhaenyra”

“And playing house with our dead fathers’ widowed wife isn’t either, but here we are”

Your sister was crowned a moon later. Offering up Dragonstone to you to settle in peace. A place to feel safe.

“It serves us well to keep it in the family” she expressed.

A Targaryen rule of thumb that spans across a multitude of avenues.

[crisalidaseason]

Fifteenth entry: The siege comes for all.

There are certain moments in the life of a shadow in which you feel surrounded by things you cannot control, but were always there. They are waiting for the moment to jump out of their hiding spot, test your abilities and even loyalties.

****

Liam went through a phase as a young boy in which he would put himself in dangerous situations - with Sloane as a tag along - just to feel the adrenaline of a good adventure. No matter how many times his mother scolded and grounded him, nothing could beat the euphoria of sneaking out of the house with the other children, disappearing in the woods for hours, stealing from the kitchens, eavesdropping conversations, pranking the infantry squads patrolling around Aretia. Consequently, Liam did not mind at all when Violet decided to invade her mother’s office and steal something. He liked the adrenaline and a part of him rejoiced at the prospect that Lilith Sorrengail would probably be very inconvenienced by their stunt.

Unfortunately, the giddy feelings died as soon as him and Sawyer unrolled the enormous parchment, revealing a map.

“We have brought the ultimate weapon for our enemies. An up-to-date map of all current outposts of Navarrian wings, to include troop strength of infantry battlements” Violet presented “As well as the locations of all current skirmishes in the last thirty days. Including last night”

Fuck. Violet was a mad mad woman. They did not steal a map, they stole the map - a map Liam was sure no cadet was allowed to see. He felt his stomach drop at the realization that they might be in serious danger. He looked at Violet, who was calmly explaining the map in detail, then at Imogen. Her green eyes were stoic, but the shoulders were tensing under her uniform shirt.

“And how do we know this map is, in fact, current?” Kaori’s voice barely registered in Liam’s mind as he stared at Xaden - who was fighting a fucking grin.

“Because we stole it from General Sorrengail’s office” Violet announced in a tone she barely used, a playfulness she reserved for her squad.

The room exploded in noise. Cadets protesting, professors shouting orders. Two scribes pulled the map out of Liam and Sawyer’s hands in a cold and false demeanor and - as their victory was declared - his squad all assembled around Violet, tapping on her head teasingly. Liam exchanged a look with Imogen, but she was purposefully avoiding his gaze and he decided to follow the silent advice. Looking at Xaden, there was only barely concealed pride as he acknowledged Violet’s gaze.

“You did it again!” Rhiannon was glued to Violet, smiling wide.

Violet giggled in return but Liam did not share her elation. There was an innocence in her voice and eyes that terrified him. He could bet that Violet was not aware of the danger she put herself into - a danger that took the shape of an old scribe fucker. She did not notice the big ‘fuck you’ that map sent to leadership’s control of information.

You were right in your assessment of peril, Deigh commented, your ward has enemies amongst your elders.

Unfortunately. If looks could kill, Markham would have burned a hole on Violet’s head already. The old man stared at her in the same way he did to all marked ones, as if assessing a threat ready to burst.

***

“To the best fucking squad!” Ridoc cheered, clinking their mugs.

Liam chugged the poorly brewed and smuggled ale in a gulp, trying to drown his newfound worry. He was not in the mood for partying, but his squad would be suspicious since he was so openly euphoric about their possible victory a few hours ago. There was also the fact he could not handle talking to Xaden at the moment - not without losing his temper. The longer his brother was silent about pressing matters, the more dangers Violet unknowingly put herself in.

“You’re a fucking gem, Vi” Rhiannon embraced Violet’s shoulders “we’re visiting an outpost thanks to your precious little head”

“It wouldn’t have worked without all of you” Violet shrugged “you retrieving that huge map was brilliant”

“Definitely” Sawyer agreed “saved our asses with that”

Pride was evident on Rhiannon’s face “I know! I was so nervous, but it worked!”

“Also” Violet shouldered him slightly “if it wasn’t for Liam’s performance on the mat and gauntlet we would be in second place even after stealing the map”

They cheered loudly - definitely not polite considering there were people sleeping near Rhiannon’s room - but Liam could feel the worry subside a little, rejoicing in his team’s acceptance and warmth. Unfortunately, those exact moments were the reason his fears would settle in the middle of the night. Liam was terrified of not being able to drink bad quality ale after a victory, terrified that one day they would not be a group of five anymore. It was exhausting to live those happy moments hyper aware that the gods could take it away on a whim.

“Let’s play a game” Ridoc suggested “everyone down for cards?”

“You always cheat” Sawyer groaned.

“You’re a sore loser, Henrick”

“Here we go again” Rhiannon complained “I’m going to the bathing chambers real quick. Vi, don’t let Ridoc look at my cards”

The two men kept bickering while distributing the cards and Liam half-heartedly arranged them in his hand, noting that his deck was relatively good.

“You okay?” Violet whispered, her hand on his forearm.

She had scooted closer to him, the bed dipping slightly with the movement. Her brows furrowed in suspicion and Liam knew he was not being so subtle about his souring emotions.

“Just a bit tired. Long day” he replied.

Not a lie, but also not the full truth. He did not want to destroy such a rare moment of celebration with worries that were difficult to explain. He knew Violet was not convinced of his answer, her eyes clearly analyzing his features and probably considering probing the answer out of him.

“I’m here” she murmured, squeezing his forearm in comfort.

A few rounds of cards - and Ridoc’s shameless cheating - later, Liam decided it would be a good time to go to his own room without raising suspicion.

“Please, do leave, Handsome” Ridoc commented “I am going to scream if you win another round”

“Don’t be a sore loser, Gamlyn” Sawyer mocked “and see you tomorrow, Liam”

“Rest well, big guy” Rhiannon “and thanks again for today. You were awesome”

He smiled at the woman, saluting her compliment with a slight bow.

“I think I’m going to bed too” Violet commented “I have training tomorrow morning”

Her motives were clearly true, but Liam knew that there was another underlying reason as soon as her eyes sent him a silent warning: you’re not off the hook.

“Relentless wingleader, huh?” Ridoc wiggled his brows “lucky woman”

Violet rolled her eyes at their squadmate, already used to the teasing that everyone put her through regarding Xaden. Liam waited for her by the door, closing it quietly after they left Rhiannon’s room.

“Spill” Violet crossed her arms “something is wrong”

Her pale eyes held the same analytic stare that made him slightly uncomfortable, the one that seemed to read right into his soul.

“You’re not gonna let this go, right?” he sighed.

She shook her head affirmatively “it has to do with the map we stole, so it is my business”

Liam pursed his lips, putting a hand on his pocket and remembering he left all carving tools in his room. Great.

“You’re worried, Liam. And I know it has to do with the map, please tell me what it is” she pleaded.

Liam felt frustration flood his system as the lie formed on his tongue. He could say that there was nothing wrong, that he was just tired. Or he could tell her his fears, tell her the dangers inside and out of that quadrant…but his brother came to mind alongside a promise Liam could not break.

But he wanted to. Liam wanted to tell her. Could he forfeit the promise to Xaden - whom he owed his and Sloane’s lives - in honor of a good friend?

“You know I won’t let them do anything to you, right?” Violet inquired “I’ll take responsibility if my mother decides to lash out. It was my idea after all.”

Liam stared at her in awe. He was no stranger to her protective side, but it was still an odd feeling when directed towards him. He was her shadow, her protector, her bodyguard…but Violet was ready to go against her own mother for someone like him.

“I know” he said “I trust you. It’s just unnerving, you know? Even the professors seemed uneasy, I don’t think they liked the fact we broke into a general’s office and stole such an important map”

There. Be vague about it. Not the full truth, but just enough to make her suspicious.

“Then it’s said general’s fault for not predicting cadets breaking into her office to begin with” Violet’s nose crinkled, signaling her defiance “and leadership’s fault for being too vague with squad battle rules, they knew the risks”

Of course her scribe brain would focus on technicalities, it was one of the reasons he admired her. Violet Sorrengail never took a step without thinking and he was hoping she would understand all of his hidden meanings.

“When you put it that way…” he replied “though your mother is still quite intimidating”

She groaned at his words, grasping her door handle and opening slightly “Believe me, the general might be intimidating but she won’t do anything to you or anyone for that matter. I won’t let it happen”

There was nothing but truth in her eyes and Liam felt like fucking shit.

Previous chapter

Next chapter

[faith-in-democracy]

Brace yourself for chaos. If Donald Trump returns to the White House, we’re in for a wild ride. His administration will not just tweak policies. It will go for the jugular of the American government and any opposition.

Trump's disdain for the establishment is no secret. This time, expect a more aggressive approach. Key institutions? Gutted. Regulatory bodies? Dismantled. His aim: to remove any checks on his power. It’s not just about shrinking government; it's about erasing it. He will stack the judiciary with loyalists, ensuring long-term control over the rule of law.

Civil servants will face the axe. Loyalty tests will become the norm. Trump’s inner circle will expand, filled with yes-men ready to push his agenda without question. The Justice Department? Expect it to serve as his personal enforcement squad. Dissent will not be tolerated. Whistleblowers will be silenced, and watchdogs defanged.

Trump's relationship with the media will hit new lows. He will work to discredit and dismantle independent journalism. His administration will flood the airwaves with propaganda, aiming to control the narrative completely.

Opposition groups, including activist organizations and political rivals, will be targeted. Expect increased surveillance and harassment. Free speech? It will be under siege. Trump’s goal will be to weaken, if not destroy, any and all opposition.

In short, a second Trump administration means the systematic dismantling of government as we know it. It’s not just a political shift. It’s a radical overhaul aimed at consolidating power and crushing dissent. Prepare for an unprecedented assault on democracy itself.

[aegor-bamfsteel]

Hi there, I have a relatively innocuous question regarding Ser Hugo Vance:

“Jaime concentrated on the fare before him, tearing off chunks of bread with his left hand and fumbling at his wine cup with his right. He watched Addam Marbrand charm the girl beside him, watched Steffon Swyft refight the battle for King's Landing with bread and nuts and carrots. Ser Kennos pulled a serving girl into his lap, urging her to stroke his horn, whilst Ser Dermot regaled some squires with tales of knight errantry in the rainwood. Farther down the table Hugo Vance had closed his eyes. Brooding on the mysteries of life, thought Jaime. That, or napping between courses.”

Jaime IV, AFFC

Basically, what is the significance of Hugo, whose family fought for Robb Stark and presumably lost men at the Red Wedding, casually having a kip during the feast at castle Darry?

Along with his brothers, Hugo is called a “friend and companion” to Edmure (who prefers their company to Catelyn’s). Even though all his brothers have survived, Catelyn sees Black Walder hamstring a Vance at the Red Wedding, so you’re right, it sounds like he’s at least lost relatives. His father, Norbert, had squired with Brynden Tully and offered to parley with him. It sounds like they have a personal connection with House Tully and don’t want to see them come to harm.

I think Hugo closing his eyes is a deliberate contrast to the cheerful Westerlands men (and Dermot, also in Joffrey’s service) who came to pacify the Riverlands. The Vances may be welcomed back to the king’s peace, but they’re not joining in the festivities at Darry. Jaime Lannister says: “Our new friends are no friends at all. Their loyalty goes no deeper than their skins…” (AFFC Jaime V). He knows that men like the Vances aren’t truly happy to have bent the knee as opposed to the victorious Westerlanders. It could be interpreted as a sign of disrespect (like some of the Dornish nobles refusing to drink to King Tommen) or even Jaime’s first reaction about Hugo brooding was more correct (they are in a Riverlands castle the Lannisters basically stole by killing its last lord and marrying one of their cousins off to a distant relative. And they’re joining the siege against their liege lord/close friend. I’d be brooding over this situation too).

Or it could be Hugo is just tired from days on the march. Either way, he’s not in the mood to party.

[verecunda]

On 25 October [1641], John Pym, the king’s key opponent in the Commons, was handed a letter in the chamber. The porter said that he had received it that morning on Fish Street Hill from a man on a horse with a red ribbon around his arm. The rider’s face was covered by a montero (a flapped hunting cap), but the porter had noticed a wart on his nose, and the twelvepence reward. He passed the letter to Pym. It contained a bandage saturated in plague pus and a note stating that if the infection did not kill him, a dagger would follow.

— The Siege of Loyalty House, Jessie Childs

They fuckin. tried to send this guy the plague through the post!

[isefyres]

𝔏𝔞𝔡𝔶 𝔍𝔬𝔞𝔫𝔫𝔞 𝔖𝔴𝔶𝔣𝔱, 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔏𝔞𝔡𝔶 𝔅𝔦𝔯𝔡 𝔬𝔣 𝔔𝔲𝔢𝔢𝔫 ℭ𝔢𝔯𝔰𝔢𝔦.

Joanna Swyft is a member of House Swyft, the daughter of Ser Steffon Swyft, the heir of Cornfield. Steffon is part of the force that left King's Landing to end the siege of Riverrun under the command of Ser Jaime Lannister. Ser Jaime gives Steffon the command of the baggage train of the column. Steffon reenactes the Battle of the Blackwater using food at the dinner celebrating Ser Jaime's arrival at Darry. During Blackwater, Joanna is send to Court to serve Queen Cersei, where the young woman serves as a little spy for the Queen. The young woman has ambitions of her own regarding her house, wanting the title of heir of her house. Cersei promises to slip the servants moontea for her mother in order for no further heirs to be born in exchange of information. Joanna is aware that this also gives the queen an advantage to hang over her if she doubts her loyalties, like she waver after the Red Wedding, which she found horrific. Joanna has used her feminine charm as Cersei calls it to get information from knights and lords, and she fears the queen would speak of it. When the Queen is arrested, Joanna goes back to the Westerlands, like Taena, mostly to keep out of sight and quiet and a respite from the possibility of being taken too if the Faith finds out of her activties. With her grandfather growing ill and her father seen by many as unfit to rule, Joanna hopes to get the keys of the Castle to herself.Joanna was named after Cersei's mother herself, her father a close friend of the Lannisters. Joanna's plan is get herself a good husband and fast, and produce an heir, saying she will guardkeep the seat of her house for her future son until the time has come.

[silversiren1101]

5 & 7 for mino and regill!

For the Hellpair, of course Taylor!

Read more because uh, these got long!

5. How do they consciously realize that they like each other? Does it take them a while?

Lol. Lmao. “Does it take a while?“ Lol. Get ready for DEEP LORE. Things that are on my official timeline and have drafted but never fully written and published. Fun stuff from pre-canon.

Also, funny thing to realize is they both only realize it after someone else points it out to them!

Minovae: it takes fives years after she joined the Hellknights, around the time of the Dospera Massacre during the Civil War. She’d probably been crushing on him for a while without knowing it but that’s when she realized it: the wake of the brutal siege that lead to the destruction of her childhood home and district… where the Scourge turned on their former allies after allying with House Thrune. During an attempted siege to Rego Crua from Rego Plea through the sewers/subterranean aqueducts, explosions from above ground destabilize the passage their unit is crossing through and the floor gives out. Realizing she can’t save both herself and Regill (her squad’s acting leader then), she chooses him, swinging him up the stable ground and falling down into the depths to what everyone involved thinks is surely death. At the time, she thinks it only duty and her intense loyalty (friendship) with him that makes her sacrifice herself—aside from the fact she has nothing else left and she’s contributed to the destruction of her own home in the name of ending this war.

The flow sweeps her out into the Westchannel. Next thing Mino knows, she’s baking in the sun, caught like flotsam on one of Westcrown’s “natural dams” of shipwreck wood and shells discarded by fishermen throughout the centuries in the bay, with what feels like more broken bones than not, and being shaken awake by a familiar sight. Before she left Westcrown years ago, she’d been a bard at one of the brothels in the Rego Pena catering to the docks and ships (and left because she was fired for breaking a man’s wrist for assuming she was part of the main entertainment, lol). Two of the working courtesans had been very fond of her (a feathered tiefling and scaled aasimar pair who taught her how to take care of her own features!), and it’s coincidentally they who find her strewn up on the dam while out in the dawn taking care of laundry. She’s subsequently dragged back to the brothel by one of the bouncers they kindly ask to help carry her heavy ass, peeled out of her armor and the armor hidden so no one targets her for being a Hellknight, laid up in bed, and a runner sent up to the Scourge’s main encampment back up in Rego Crua to report their MIA knight in dire need of some healing magic.

Imagine Regill’s immense surprise upon being summoned by his superiors, and he arrives to find a brothel girl talking with them; even more so when he learns Arangeir isn’t dead. He’s granted leave to confirm, bring requisitioned potions to get her back to her feet, and deliver her next orders... which he does--Goes to the brothel with glamered armor because technically its behind enemy lines and, well, as a gnome he won't exactly be clocked as a Hellknight out of his armor as easily as anyone else, lol. Lo and behold, his missing ganzi and savior is indeed alive, all sorts of messed up (broken bones, swallowed so much saltwater, water in lungs, sun exposure), but he's immensely relieved to see that she made it. He questions the owner about why they saved her, a Hellknight, leading to him being dumbstruck when they laugh and tell him: "We look after our own in this business, no longer in it or no. Imagine our surprise today seeing her now. She left us as a spitfire with anger issues but a golden voice and shows back up clad in blackened plate. I dare say few of us approve of the life she has chosen since leaving us, but... I can't look at that tail and that mess of platinum hair and not see that desperate young girl that pleaded with me for a place to work and stay all those years ago." The owner doesn’t say why, only says it’s not her story to tell, and Mino who has quietly regained consciousness a few minutes before (thanks to a potion) cheekily rasps at him why she was fired and, a bit delirious, cracks a joke about any assumptions he might’ve leapt to about her working there, and with the Hellknights not running any background checks aside from passing the Trial, a Hellknight whore isn’t that out of the question. (Something she groans at when fully conscious lol).

He regains his composure (he wasn’t as stoic 80 years ago, pre-Bleaching) and sternly informs her she has 2 days of leave to recover before she is expected back in her duties. He also salutes her, and tells her she has been recognized for her commitment to her duty and valor in saving his life and that there is a commendation waiting for her upon her return… and also he is pleased they didn’t lose as good a knight as her. He looks forward to welcoming her back to active duty, but also tells her to rest and recover.

Only when he leaves do the women start giggling and asking her questions. The owner says something about him being handsome, but never expected Mino to fall for someone like him: so stony and stoic and intense. She is totally flabbergasted and denies it, only for the owner to remind her that she can tell where feelings have taken root in order separate her workers from repeat clients should relationships start to bloom… and Mino’s aren’t just rooted, they’re full on blooming without her knowing.

It haunts her for days and days, firmly in denial, until she returns to camp and when Regill goes to help her to her feet after she’s knocked to the ground during sparring drills, she can’t deny it anymore. It hits her like a fucking carriage.

She has to swallow it down, knowing nothing would ever come of it aside from heartbreak.

Regill: His takes like 80 years. He had a little crush before she left and then, well, she was actually dead until Areelu brought her back. After she is reported MIA -> KIA in the Worldwound, he feels this inexplicable bitterness about her leaving so suddenly with no explanation, especially with how broken she seemed. She also had stolen a kiss from him and he's just very... Well he doesn't know what's going on and it all just manifests as anger and this sense of waste that grows numb overtime.

Game starts, the anger is back but all twisted up with relief and other confusing things that she is alive and back... especially since she doesn't remember him (until later). Events of the game + her regaining her memories and he is so so so blind to his growing camaraderie and respect for her reaching a point where it simply isn’t just mere respect anymore. In Mino’s “custom mythic path” canon, she succeeds in the Legend path until her powers are immediately foisted back onto her not even minutes after purging them by her sire/creator, Ssila’meshnik. The aeon power is infused with an equal amount of pure chaos to form a paradox, and the surge of power as they're forced back into her causes them to spiral out of control. She jumps ahead 3 days into the future, wounded and terrified and helpless, while the rest of the world has to wait for time to pass normally to find her.

Regill doesn’t handle this well. He'd already been agonizing over her madness and fall across the events in the Abyss to then, preparing to even mercy kill her before she was totally lost. A protean lord appears, calls her 'daughter', impales her, and the last thing she did in her fear was reach out for him for help before disappearing in a warpwave? He barely sleeps. Barely eats. Desperate to find her and figure out where she will appear so he can be there to bring her back to Drezen for care. He’s a complete mess but doesn’t consciously realize he is, snapping at everyone, trapped in his thoughts and searching, and he eventually drops from exertion and weakness. The rest of the companions are also messes in their own way and boy does it start a hell of a fight. He hears in the next room over where he’s laid up Daeran shouting at Sosiel and Seelah both “can’t you see he adores her?! I know next to nothing about true love but if that isn’t it then I don’t believe it exists and your goddess can smite us here and now for my heresy!”

It’s definitely his cliche “oh” moment, forcing him to realize why he couldn’t figure out why he was feeling so physically awful and pained and sick and anxious: he had no idea what love felt like, much less the aching grieving fearful kind he’s been drowning in with her missing and him helpless to do anything about it.

7. Do they pursue the other character’s affection, and if so, how? Do they tell the other character how they feel? Try to earn their admiration? Woo them with romantic gestures? Flirt with them?

This is a loaded ass question!

Ultimately their relationship is based on Love as a Choice. Their feelings sprouting are not a choice, but their decision to act upon them and not ignore them/squash them is one! They choose to love each other, and as Hellknights that is a big deal. Their love is not a pursuit but an offering: I am giving you my heart and my life. It's not a matter of pursuit but simply accepting what is willingly being given as a choice.

Hence, they essentially take things as they come, and they’ve known each other for so painfully long and know each other better for anyone that things like trying to earn their admiration or flirting don’t really happen between them—it’s already there.

As for "earning their admiration", it's more like "not wanting to lose it". The beginning of their relationship is characterized with a bit of hesitancy and fearfulness at "messing it up": Mino worries about losing his admiration by being too merciful and Regill worries about losing hers by being too merciless (even though these are already known factors and part of the reasons they fell for the other, lol). She is also scared of moving too quickly and scaring him, or fully accepting their relationship as reality at first because she's terrified he will "see reason" and call things off. Regill, meanwhile, has zero relationship experience and zero romantic experience at all as the most glacial demiromantic and demisexual man in all of Golarion lol. He loves her, he finds that out, but the acts of doing it? Navigating this new territory is also something he's figuring out, all the while worried about hurting her with his emotional clumsiness and inexperience. The early relationship sees him being frustrated with trying to identify these new emotions, much less handle them with any sort of grace.

As for wooing - Love as a Choice means that it's pretty much in everything they do. I'm choosing to spend my life with you. I'm choosing to fight and die and bleed with you. I'm choosing to sleep at your side and hold your hand when it hurts and reassure you when it all seems hopeless. That to them is romance. So, whatever romantic gestures they do are usually small, and so much more meaningful because of it. Being at the center of history, something are mundane as learning and taking part in Mino’s grooming routine is immensely romantic to her because it’s a choice to take part in just… her. Her finding interesting philosophical books and military strategy ones, and listening to him talk about such things simply because she likes to hear him be passionate about them is also something he finds remarkably endearing from her. Romance is in every refilled coffee mug and "I grabbed you a snack because you seemed cranky" and reminder to grab a coat because it's cold and rainy.

They do talk about their feelings and relationship more than you would think. She wears her heart on her sleeve and he doesn't have issues speaking the truth so much as he's not equipped with the right words and still figuring things out. Hard to explain that which you have so little idea of! There is no embarrassment or difficulty saying "I love you" between them~

As for flirting... Mino is a strange case. She is extremely seductive and good at fake flirting, using her skills as a former bard and espionage specialist in the Scourge. Real flirting though? Oh she's so hopeless. Bright red face beneath her scales, stumbling over the delivery, laughing mid joke, drowning in butterflies in her stomach... When the love and feelings are real she can't put on the sultry flirting act since her real love is very bubbly and earnest and filled with laughter. Regill meanwhile doesn't flirt and he doesn't have to. He says things so confidently and in such a way that statements delivered totally straight sound super sexy to her anyway, lmao.

From this list of questions!

[lepreuxchevalier]

My latest retouch of the second illustration of some "Schwarze Reiter” that I have officially designed to feature the faction iconography of “Hohenrotbart Des Königreich Middenland" or "House Rotbart of The Kingdom of Middenland," one of the most iconic and prolific factions of my "homebrew" low-fantasy setting. Both this artwork and it's associated faction iconography were officially designed for a "homebrew" low-fantasy setting of my original conception with technology and material culture roughly equivalent to European History during the compounded advents of The Italian Renaissance, The Protestant Reformation, and The Discovery of America. Where formations of heavily armoured and mounted, aristocratic and noble knights in either suits of full plate armour or heavy coats of chainmail fight alongside professional regiments of pikemen and matchlock musketeers. Where medieval-style stone castles are gradually being outsourced in favour of lavish country estates and devoted military fortifications, or “bastions,” due to the technological advancements being made in gunpowder-based, siege artillery. And where fledgling nation-states in the form of both kingdoms and empires look beyond the great oceans and the terrestrial frontiers of “The Known World” in search of exotic riches and territory.

In context to the canon lore of my "homebrew" low-fantasy setting, “Hohenrotbart Des Königreich Middenland" or "House Rotbart of The Kingdom of Middenland" is loosely inspired by Medieval and Renaissance Prussia under The Theocracy of The Teutonic Knights as well as Ducal Prussia during the 16th and 17th centuries. “Friedrich I, Der erster und herrschend König von Middenland und Der Gründungschef von Hohenrotbart," with his legislative decree to formally convert to “The Luxembourgian Reformation” on behalf of both his dynastic household and his hereditary subjects being highly analogous to "Albrecht von Hohenzollern's" or "Albert von Preußen's" formal secularization of “The Monastic State of The Teutonic Knights” or “Des Deutschordenstaat” to The Lutheran, East Prussian Duchy as it's last effective grandmaster and it's first hereditary duke in the early 16th century.

Designated in my "homebrew" low-fantasy setting as “Shwarze Reiter” or “Black Riders,” the constituent “Bruderschaften” or “chapters” of “Der Schwarze Reiter” are the elite, pseudo-monastic, martial fraternities of aristocratic and noble heavy cavalry paying direct homage and military service to "Den Könige von Middenland" from "Hohenrotbart." "Die Brüderschaften" or "The Brotherhoods" as the constituent "chapters" of "Der Schwarze Reiter" drew manpower from a network of logistical and recruiting districts geographically situated within the frontiers of Des Königreich Middenland known as "cantons" each centered around "Eine Ordensburg" or "a chapter castle." Each “Brüderschaft” or “chapter” of "Der Schwarze Reiter" was assigned to the personal command and the direct supervision of “Ein Großmeister” or “a grandmaster,” who were each personally and individually charged for life by the persons of "Der Könige von Middenland" from "Hohenrotbart" to be given personal command and direct supervision over an individual "Brüderschaft" or "chapter" within "Die Schwarze Reiter." "Die Großmeister" or "The Grandmasters" of "Der Schwarze Reiter" were personally and individually appointed from "legitimate issues" or "dynastic scions" of Des Königreich Middenland's princely "great houses" of "junker" aristocrats and nobles in order to "bind" or otherwise "insure" both their hereditary, dynastic loyalties and their feudal homage to the feudal suzerainty of "Hohenrotbart Des Königreich Middenland. "Die Könige von Middenland" from "Hohenrotbart" are the traditionally hereditary holders for the technically appointed office of "Des Hochmeister Der Schwarze Reiter" or "The Supreme Grandmaster of All Schwarze Reiter." A military tradition meant to engender "Hohenrotbart Des Königreich Middenland's" dynastic traditions of martial discipline, martial professionalism, and crusading, warrior ethos of worthy of the commaders-in-chief to all the constituent "Brüderschaften" or "chapters" within "Die Schwarze Reiter." In order to "strengthen" or otherwise "reinforce" the bonds of professional loyalties and direct homage of the constituent "Brüderschaften" or "chapters" of "Der Schwarze Reiter" to “Den Könige von Middenland" from "Hohenrotbart" as the traditionally hereditary holders for the technically appointed office of “Des Hochmeister Der Schwarzen Reiter” or "The Supreme Grandmaster of All Schwarze Reiter." Both the personal livelihoods and the unit upkeep costs of the constituent “Brüderschaften” or "chapters" of "Der Schwarze Reiter" were funded through a combination of the seasonal land tax generated by “the demesne” or “the crownlands” under the direct administration of "Hohenrotbart Des Königreich Middenland" and their civil administrators, through any tariffs imposed on the commerce and the industry of Des König von Middenland’s charter companies and the local trade guilds, as well as through any tithes and benefices generated by the religious services of, donations to, and property owned by The Conservative Church of The New Gods in joint partnership with "Hohenrotbart Des Königreich Middenland" over the sovereign and legitimate rulership, the state administration, and the systematic, mass conversion of the autochthonous, apostate, Albic tribes religiously subscribed to the druidic, cult worship of “Erdøk,” "The Great Bastion," or ”The Great Forest” geographically situated directly beyond the easternmost fronters of “Das Selbst Kaiserreich Der Menschheit” or “The Empire of Mankind Proper.”

Alongside "Hohenbiermann Der Markgrafschaft Brannenborg," "Hohenrotbart Des Königreich Middenland" collectively forms "Die Sudkreuzritterstaaten," "Die Teutogenstaaten," or "Die Sudentscheidenstaaten." Essentially a "Teutogen" or "Southern Austere" cultural and linguistic bloc born of the subsequent and complimentary events of "The Southern Crusades" and "The Sudsiedlung." "The Southern Crusades" essentially being the religious warfare and the territorial conquests formally preached and prosecuted against the autochthonous, apostate, Albic tribes religiously subscribed to the druidic, cult worship of "Erdøk," "The Great Forest," or "The Great Bastion" geographically situated directly beyond the easternmost frontiers of "Des Zweiten Kaiserreich der Menschheit" or "The Empire of Mankind Secundus." While "The Sudsiedlung" generally denotes the gradual, mass migration and the effective resettlement of culturally and ethnically "Austere" or "Northern Imperial" settlers and immigrants hailing from "Das Selbst Kaiserreich der Menschheit" or "The Empire of Mankind Proper" alongside the systematic, mass conversion of the indigenous, apostate, Albic tribes back into the fold of The Conservative Church of The New Gods officially seated within The Holy Sept of Romulus, Cosmopoleis synonymous and complimentary with their thorough assimilation into the "Austere" or "Northern Imperial" culture and language of their feudal and ecclesiastical lords and masters using the religious services and the church schools officially sponsored by a culturally and ethnically "Austere" or "Northern Imperial" Conservative Clergy with their traditional monopolies over knowledge, learning, and education in general. The thorough and effective cultural assimilation of the autochthonous, apostate, Albic tribes of Des Königreich Middenland and Der Markgrafschaft Brannenborg being a practical necessity for their systematic, mass conversion back into the fold of The Conservative Church of The New Gods due to the practical realities associated with the inherent shortage and lack of any literate and formally educated indigenous Albic Clergy who could effectively and efficiently preach and proselytize the conservative liturgy of The Holy Canons of The New Gods to the pious masses in "Die Sudkreuzritterstaaten, "Die Teutogenstaaten," or "Die Sudentscheidenstaaten." With any autochthonous, apostate, Albic tribes who had both violently resisted and openly protested against the legislative marginalization of their religious liberties meant to encourage their systematic, mass conversion back into the fold of The Conservative Church of The New Gods traditionally seated within The Holy Sept of Classical Romulus facing mass genocide at the hands of the fledgling, yet brutally effective and efficient professional armies paying direct homage and military service to "Hohenrotbart Des Königreich Middenland" and "Hohenbiermann Der Markgrafscaft Brannenborg," or those of the feudal, aristocratic levies of knightly retinues and pike-and-shotte infantry regiments paying direct homage and military service to the aristocratic and noble "great houses" of "junker" princeps and magnates in either Das Königreich Middenland or Die Markgrafschaft Brannenborg. "Hohenrotbart Des Königreich Middenland," in particular, was born out of Bishop-Prince Friedrich Albrecht Von Rotbart's "Midlands Crusade" formally preached and prosecuted on behalf of "Archpatriarch Vexillarius IV, 299th and Reigning Bishop of Romulus and Current Head of The Conservative Church of The New Gods" against the autochthonous, apostate, Albic tribes geographically situated directly beyond the southernmost frontiers of "Des Zweiten Kaiserreich der Menschheit" or "The Empire of Mankind Secundus." With "The Midlands Crusade" finally concluding, in stunning and overwhelming triumph, in favour of Bishop-Prince Friedrich Albrecht Von Rotbart and the conquering, crusading host of "The Midlands Crusade" at the climactic "Battle of The Godswoods."

With the stunning and final conclusion of "The Midlands Crusade" formally and officially preached and prosecuted against the indigenous, apostate, Albic tribes religiously subscribed to the druidic, cult worship of "Erdøk" or "The Great Forest" by Friedrich I's far more prestigious, prolific, and illustrious older brother Friedrich Albrecht Von Rotbart, "Bishop-Prince of Elchingen," "ecclesiastical, invested Kurfürst Des Selbst Kaiserreich der Menschheit," and above all "The Archpatriarchal Legate" or "The Pontifical Representative" to "Vexillarius IV, 299th and Reigning Bishop of Romulus and Current Head of The Conservative Church of The New Gods" for "The Midlands Crusade" with the stunning and overwhelming victory for the sanctioned host of The Conservative Church of The New Gods at the climactic "Battle of The Godswoods." "The Godswoods" as the holiest shrine and the sacred grove to the autochthonous, apostate, Albic tribes geographically situated directly beyond the southernmost frontiers of "Das Selbst Kaiserreich der Menschheit" or "The Empire of Mankind Proper" was subsequently and consequently desecrated and demolished by the conquering, crusading knights of "The Midlands Crusade." With it's constituent lands being formally consecrated as the site of the new basilica town of Marienburg, where Friedrich Albrecht Von Rotbart would be invested, with The Bishop of Romulus' explicit blessing, the awesome and prestigious ecclesiastical office of "Bishop-Patriarch of Marienburg" in order to facilitate the systematic, mass conversion of the indigenous, apostate, Albic tribes back into the fold of The Conservative Church of The New Gods traditionally seated within The Holy Sept of Romulus. By sheer virtue of his fraternal ties to both "The Archpatriarchal Legate" or "The Pontifical Representative" to Vexillarius IV for "The Midlands Crusade" as well as the seminal and founding "Bishop-Patriarch of Marienburg," Friedrich Von Rotbart was naturally prioritized over all other prospective candidates for his formal coronation and anointment as "Friedrich I, Der erster und herrschend König von Middenland und Der Gründungschef von Hohenrotbart" as The Former Kingdom of The Midlands' first hereditary monarch and dynastic household since the extinction of the legitimate, male bloodline of The Late House Bartholemew almost an entire century ago. Using the awesome power, prestige, and authority inherently tied to the venerable and prestigious ecclesiastical office of Bishop-Patriarch of Marienburg, Friedrich-Albrecht Von Rotbart would use his ecclesiastical office within The Conservative Church of The New Gods to leverage the unanimous political and religious support of all the high ranking ecclesiastical and monastic offices of Conservative Clergy within Das Königreich Middenland.

Although having won the unanimous religious support and the political backing of the ecclesiastical and the monastic clergy of The Conservative Church of The New Gods in Das Königreich Middenland. Friedrich I's coronation as "Der erster und herrschend König von Middenland und Der Gründungschef von Hohenrotbart" was initially and generally received with both icy anticipation and subtle dread, in equal measure, by the newly established aristocratic and noble "great houses" of "junker" princeps and magnates who formed from the cream, core, and bulk of the conquering, crusading knights originally involved in Friedrich-Albrecht Von Rotbart's "Midlands Crusade." Many of whom felt personally that they were better suited towards, or otherwise felt that they were more entitled to the formal and official coronation for the hereditary, dynastic title of "Der erster und herrschend König von Middenland" due to the equal degree of suspicion and skepticism they generally held in regards to Friedrich Von Rotbart in most part due to his minor aristocratic and noble birth within the "Austere" or "Northern Imperial" cultural and linguistic hemisphere of "Des Zweiten Kaiserreich der Menschheit" or "The Empire of Mankind Secundus," as well as his professional background as a mercenary captain to pike-and-shotte infantry, as opposed to aristocratic and noble heavy cavalry due to the historical precedence of the militaristic traditions and the ideology of professional chivalry. To placate the residual and looming suspicion, skepticism, and subtle dread initially and generally expressed by Das Königreich Middenland's greater and lesser dynastic houses of "junker" aristocrats and nobles, while also further "entrenching" or otherwise "reinforcing" their feudal homage and their hereditary, dynastic loyalties to "Hohenrotbart Des Königreich Middenland." Friedrich I, with Bishop-Patriarch Friedrich-Albrecht Von Rotbart's explicit blessing, would award hereditary, dynastic enfeoffment over Das Königreich Middenland's most arable and lucrative lands, titles, and estates which had not been previously claimed as the legal property of The Conservative Church of The New Gods to the greater and lesser dynastic houses of "junker" aristocrats and nobles. Later on into the decades of his long, prolific, and illustrious reign as "Der erster und herrschend König von Middenland und Der Gründungschef von Hohenrotbart," Friedrich I would decree state legislation to award Das Königreich Middenland's greater and lesser dynastic houses of "junker" aristocrats and nobles the exclusive, feudal privilege for state appointments as judges and magistrates for the new, secular, "royal" law courts officially established by Friedrich I since the aftermath of "The Midlands Crusade" with his formal coronation as "Der erster und herrschend König von Middenland und Der Gründungschef von Hohenrotbart." The voluminous bodies of secular law codes, traditions, and customs governing the provincial jurisdiction of Friedrich I's "royal" law courts essentially being derivative works of those of "Die Freie Reichsstädte" or "The Imperial Free Cities" within the "Austere" or "Northern Imperial" cultural and linguistic hemisphere of "Des Zweiten Kaiserreich der Menschheit" or "The Empire of Mankind Secundus." With the exception of the provincial jurisdiction of the episcopal diocese of The Archbishopric of Marienburg, which was governed directly by the canon law courts answerable only to The Archpatriarch traditionally seated within The Holy Sept of Romulus.

In direct cooperation and in joint partnership with his far more prestigious, prolific, and illustrious older brother Bishop-Patriarch Friedrich-Albrecht Von Rotbart. "Friedrich I, Der erster und herrschend König von Middenland und Der Gründungschef von Hohenrotbart" worked in direct cooperation and in joint partnership with both the ecclesiastical and the monastic clergy of The Conservative Church of The New Gods over the sovereign and legitimate rulership, the state administration, and the systematic, mass conversion of Des Königreich Middenland's autochthonous, apostate, Albic tribes back into the fold of The Conservative Church of The New Gods officially seated within The Holy Sept of Classical Romulus. With any indigenous, apostate, Albic tribes who had both violently resisted and openly protested against the legislative marginalization of their religious liberties meant to encourage their systematic, mass conversion back into the fold of The Conservative Church of The New Gods facing mass genocide at the hands of either the fledgling, yet brutally efficient and effective professional army paying direct homage and military service to "Hohenrotbart Des Königreich Middenland," or those of the feudal, aristocratic levies of knightly retinues and pike-and-shotte infantry regiments paying direct homage and military service to Dem Königreich Middenland's aristocratic and noble "great houses" of "junker" princeps and magnates. The systematic, mass conversion efforts to bring the autochthonous, apostate, Albic tribes back into the fold of The Conservative Church of The New Gods was facilitated exclusively by a culturally and an ethnically "Austere" or "Northern Imperial" Conservative Clergy, who had maintained their traditional monopolies over knowledge, learning, and education in general. A practical necessity meant to compensate for the inherent shortage and lack of any literate and formally educated "autochthonous" or "indigenous" Albic Clergy who could effectively and efficiently preach and proselytize the conservative liturgy of The Holy Canons of The New Gods to the pious masses of Des Königreich Middenland. The systematic, mass conversion of Des Königreich Middenland's indigenous, apostate, Albic tribes necessitated the practicality of their thorough and effective assimilation into the culture and language of their "Austere" or "Northern Imperial" feudal and ecclesiastical lords and masters using the religious services and the church schools officially sponsored by a culturally and ethnically "Austere" or "Northern Imperial" Conservative Clergy.

In order to "revitalize" or otherwise "encourage" the growth of Das Königreich Middenland's internal economy, industrial base, and cultural and scholastic activity. Friedrich I's first and most enduring policy as "Der erster und herrschend König von Middenland und Der Gründungschef von Hohenrotbart" was to encourage both the mass immigration and the thorough and effective resettlement of skilled, educated, and moneyed commoners hailing from his native "Austere" or "Northern Imperial" cultural and linguistic hemisphere within "Das Selbst Kaiserreich der Menschheit" or "The Empire of Mankind Proper." Using the allure and the promise to permanently resettle, in free hold, within the newly established castles and fortified cities of Des Königreich Middenland, as well as the most lucrative and arable rural estates of their attached countryside. Friedrich I hopes to stimulate the growth of both the rising class of urban "burghers" or "bourgeoisie, merchants, professionals, and artisans," as well as the rising class of rural "kollmers" or "country gentlemen." In order to relieve the societal tension caused by the cultural and religious differences between the more-than-significant influx of culturally "Austere" or "Northern Imperial" settlers and immigrants with the indigenous, apostate Albic tribes. Friedrich I as "Der erster und herrschend König von Middenland und Der Gründungschef von Hohenrotbart," in direct partnership with the ecclesiastical clergy of The Conservative Church of The New Gods in Das Königreich Middenland, officially decreed state legislation to offer church-sponsored dowries to any autochthonous Albic families who had both openly and officially converted back into the fold of The Conservative Church of The New Gods in return for marrying off their daughters to any male settlers and immigrants hailing from the "Austere" or "Northern Imperial" cultural and linguistic hemisphere of "Des Zweiten Kaiserreich der Menschheit" or "The Empire of Mankind Secundus." By officially endorsing both a political and a religious campaign to encourage intermarriage between the daughters of any indigenous Albic families who had both openly and officially converted back into the fold of The Conservative Church of The New Gods with male settlers and immigrants hailing from the "Austere" or "Northern Imperial" cultural and linguistic hemisphere of "Des Zweiten Kaiserreich der Menschheit" or "The Empire of Mankind Secundus" using dowries officially sponsored by the ecclesiastical clergy of The Conservative Church of The New Gods in Dem Königreich Middenland. Friedrich I hopes to "stimulate" or otherwise "encourage" the rate and the efficiency of the systematic, mass conversion of Des Königreich Middenland's indigenous, apostate, Albic tribes while also placating any political and social instability agitated by the cultural and the religious friction between the more-than-significant influx of "Austere" or "Northern Imperial" settlers and immigrants with the Albic natives.

With the untimely passing away of Bishop-Patriarch Friedrich-Albrecht Von Rotbart as Friedrich I's far more prestigious, prolific, and illustrious older brother, "The Archpatriarchal Legate" or "The Pontifical Representative" to Vexillarius IV for "The Midlands Crusade," and the seminal and founding "Bishop-Patriarch of Marienburg" formally invested during the stunning conclusion and aftermath of "The Midlands Crusade" with the official consecration of the site of the basilica town of Marienburg over the lands of the former "Godswoods" as the holiest shrine and the sacred grove of the autochthonous, apostate, Albic tribes of "The Former Kingdom of The Midlands" since before it's untimely and final collapse with the extinction of the legitimate, male bloodline of "The Late House Bartholemew" and the subsequent and consequent warring and political feuding between The Former Kingdom of The Midlands' aristocratic and noble "great houses" of feudal princeps and magnates over the issue of legitimate succession to the then extinct, legitimate male bloodline of The Late House Bartholemew. The venerable and ailing Archpatriarch Vexillarius IV as "The 299th and Reigning Bishop of Romulus and The Current Head of The Conservative Church of The New Gods" formally and officially invested in, with his explicit blessing, "Wolfgang Amadeus Von Holswig-Schlestien, Bishop-Prince of Griffenheim and ecclesiastical, invested, Kurfürst Des Selbst Kaiserreich Der Menschheit" as the lawful and legitimate successor to the late Friedrich-Albrecht Von Rotbart for the venerable and prestigious ecclesiastical office of "Bishop-Patriarch of Marienburg." Unlike Bishop-Patriarch Friedrich-Albrecht Von Rotbart as his immediate predecessor and the seminal and founding Bishop-Patriarch of Marienburg, this new Bishop-Patriarch of Marienburg was particularly hellbent on both maximizing and prioritizing the spiritual, cultural, and moral power, authority, and influence of The Conservative Church of The New Gods formally seated within The Holy Sept of Romulus as the historic capital, civilizational kernel, and titular namesake of The Cosmopolitan, Classical Romulan Republic and "The Empire of Mankind Primus" at the expense of marginalizing the secular, worldly, and temporal power, authority, and influence of "Hohenrotbart Des Königreich Middenland" to a purely nominal level, in order to improve the rate and the efficiency of the systematic, mass conversion of Des Königreich Middenland's autochthonous, apostate Albic tribes religiously subscribed to the druidic, cult worship of "Erdøk" or "The Great Forest" geographically situated directly beyond the easternmost frontiers of "Das Zweiten Kaiserreich Der Menschheit" or "The Empire of Mankind Secundus," which he deemed as being facilitated "reluctantly" or otherwise "inadequately." Stating at one point during his brief and untimely tenure as The Second Bishop-Patriarch of Marienburg that "The Midlands Crusade was formally and officially preached and prosecuted against the autochthonous, apostate, Albic tribes in the name of The Canon Pantheon of The New Gods, not in the name of the selfish and conceited ambitions of prospective monarchs and aristocrats. And it was through their sheer grace and divinity that The Midlands Crusade had finally concluded, in stunning and overwhelming triumph, in favour of the sanctioned host of The Conservative Church."

"Friedrich I, Der erster und herrschend König von Middenland und Der Gründungschef von Hohenrotbart," in direct response to this seemingly existential threat to his sovereign and legitimate rule posed by this new Bishop-Patriarch of Marienburg and his clerical and lay administration, formally decreed state legislation as "Der erster und herrschend König von Middenland und Der Gründungschef von Hohenrotbart" to officially convert to "The Luxembourgian Reformation" to the religious establishment of, and the institutions of organized religion within The Conservative Church of The New Gods traditionally seated within The Holy Sept of Classical Romulus as the historic capital, the civilizational kernel, and the titular namesake of both The Cosmopolitan, Classical Romulan Republic and "The Empire of Mankind Primus" during "The Civilized World's" historic epoch of "Classical Antiquity" on behalf of both his dynastic household and his hereditary subjects. Karl Von Luxembourg essentially being a learned church doctor of theology from "Die Universität Wörtzburch" in "Das Herzogtum Solingen," a prestigious graduate of "The Imperial Academy" at "Nymphenburg," and the official head and the former heir apparent to "Hohenluxembourg Des Königreich Schönbrunn," the only hereditary monarchy within "Das Zweiten Kaiserreich der Menshheit" or "The Empire of Mankind Secundus" who is best known for his drafted and published thesis openly condemning the corruption, the abuses, and the worldly excesses of both the ecclesiastical and the monastic clergy of The Conservative Church of The New Gods and the appeal for a general, sweeping, and universal theological reformation to the religious establishment of, and the institutions of organized religion within The Conservative Church of The New Gods officially seated within The Holy Sept of Classical Romulus. In the process of decreeing state legislation to become the first hereditary, dynastic ruler in both the recorded histories and the geographic enormity of "The Known World" to officially convert to Karl Von Luxembourg's general, sweeping, and universal theological reformation of The Conservative Church of The New Gods, Friedrich I would enact "the formal assumption of supreme authority over matters of religion" as “The First Supreme Head of The Reformed Church of The New Gods in Das Königreich Middenland." Thus subsequently and consequently endowing himself with state investiture over new bishops and abbots for "The Reformed Church of The New Gods in Das Königreich Middenland," including state investiture over the venerable and prestigious ecclesiastical office of Bishop-Patriarch of Marienburg since the historic consecration and founding of the basilica town of Marienburg over the site of the former "Godswoods" in the aftermath of Friedrich-Albrecht Von Rotbart's "Midlands Crusade," with the formal investiture of his brother as the seminal and founding "Bishop-Patriarch of Marienburg" charged with the systematic, mass conversion of the indigenous, apostate, Albic tribes religiously subscribed to the druidic, cult worship of "Erdøk" or "The Great Forest." Friedrich I's formal assumption of supreme authority over matters of religion through his legislative decree to officially convert to "The Luxembourgian Reformation" on behalf of both his dynastic household and his hereditary subjects would naturally culminate in the systematic persecution, the legislative marginalization, and the confiscation of the lands, estates, and treasuries of any ecclesiastical and monastic clergy of The Conservative Church of The New Gods who had both openly and stubbornly refused to submit before, and openly protested against Friedrich I's formal renunciation of his spiritual, cultural, and moral ties of fealty to “The Archpatriarchs” or “The Bishops of Romulus” as “The Anointed, Acolytic, and Universal Heads of The Conservative Church of The New Gods.”

Friedrich I's first official policy as "The First Supreme Head of The Reformed Church of The New Gods in Das Königreich Middenland" was to decriminalize both the vernacular translations and the private ownership of "The Holy Canons of The New Gods" in direct accordance with Karl Von Luxembourg's essential and defining theological tenets of "sola fide" or "salvation by faith alone," "sola scriptura" or "salvation by scripture alone," and "sola gratia" or "salvation by the god-king alone." Which had always been traditionally codified in "Classical Cosmopolitan" or "Ecclesiastical Cosmopolitan" as the conservative liturgical language of The Conservative Church of The New Gods since the original composition, codification, and canonization of the most widely attested and popular oral mythologies of The Cosmopolitan and The Mycenean Pantheons into the canon theology of The Faith of The New Gods traditionally attributed to the theological reforms officially decreed under the reign of The Cosmopolitan, Classical Romulan Imperator of Mankind "Cassadorian the Great." While both the private ownership and the strict interpretation of The Holy Canons of The New Gods had remained the exclusive, legal reserve of the ecclesiastical and the monastic clergy of The Conservative Church of The New Gods since it's original institutionalization under The Cosmopolitan, Classical Romulan Imperator of Mankind "Demetrius Superbus" as an "administrative organ" or an "administrative body" within the civil magistracy of The Cosmopolitan, Classical Romulan "Empire of Mankind Primus," as well as the exclusive, feudal privilege of the hereditary, dynastic, greater and lesser houses of feudal aristocracy and nobility as both "the traditional" and "the preferential" source for aspiring and prospective clergymen. With Friedrich I's legislative decree to decriminalize both the vernacular translations and the private ownership of The Holy Canons of The New Gods officially opening both it's reading and it's strict interpretation to all social classes outside the ecclesiastical and the monastic clergy of The Reformed Church of The New Gods in Das Königreich Middenland as well as the greater and lesser hereditary, dynastic houses of "junker" aristocracy and nobility.

In order to effectively "bolster" or otherwise "reinforce" his legislative decree to open both the private ownership and the strict interpretation of the vernacular translations of The Holy Canons of The New Gods to all social classes outside the ecclesiastical and monastic clergy and the feudal aristocracy and nobility. Friedrich I had actively campaigned to proliferate both the spread and the growth of mass literacy within Das Königreich Middenland using the religious support and the political backing of any professional printers, missionaries, and church schools personally sympathetic to Karl Von Luxembourg and his general, sweeping, and universal reformation to the religious establishment of, and institutions of organized religion within The Conservative Church of The New Gods officially seated within The Holy Sept of Romulus as the historic capital, civilizational kernel, and titular namesake of The Cosmopolitan, Classical Romulan Republic and "The Empire of Mankind Primus." With Friedrich I's formal issuance of the deed of foundation for "The Collegium Fridericium" or "Die Universität Königsberg" to serve as both the earliest and the greatest official centre for the ideological proliferation of Karl Von Luxembourg's general, sweeping, and universal theological reformation of The Conservative Church of The New Gods, as well as a religious and cultural monument quite literally "set in stone" dedicated in homage to his equally timeless and enduring legacy and infamy as the first hereditary, dynastic ruler in both the recorded histories and the geographic enormity of "The Known World" to formally renounce his spiritual, cultural, and moral ties of fealty to The Holy Sept in Classical Romulus. In the process of formally issuing the deed of foundation for the levying of a new university at his historic capital and personal seat of power in "Königsberg." "The Collegium Fridericium" or "Die Universität Königsberg" would serve as a mighty bastion and stronghold of religious and cultural education explicitly founded with the intent of producing aspiring and prospective bishops and abbots formally schooled and educated in the intellectual framework and methodology of renaissance humanism most popular within the scholastic and academic communities and circles native to the "Frivolous" or "Southern Imperial" states of "L'Impero Secundo dell'Umanità" or "The Empire of Mankind Secundus" and charged with the clerical maintenance and the administration of religious orthodoxy within "The Reformed Church of The New Gods in Das Königreich Middenland," as well as literate and formally educated missionaries and preachers charged with the mission of preaching and proselytizing the theological reforms of Karl Von Luxembourg throughout and beyond the established frontiers of Das Königreich Middenland.

[isefyres-archive]

𝔏𝔞𝔡𝔶 𝔍𝔬𝔞𝔫𝔫𝔞 𝔖𝔴𝔶𝔣𝔱, 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔏𝔞𝔡𝔶 𝔅𝔦��𝔡 𝔬𝔣 𝔔𝔲𝔢𝔢𝔫 ℭ𝔢𝔯𝔰𝔢𝔦.

Joanna Swyft is a member of House Swyft, the daughter of Ser Steffon Swyft, the heir of Cornfield. Steffon is part of the force that left King's Landing to end the siege of Riverrun under the command of Ser Jaime Lannister. Ser Jaime gives Steffon the command of the baggage train of the column. Steffon reenactes the Battle of the Blackwater using food at the dinner celebrating Ser Jaime's arrival at Darry. During Blackwater, Joanna is send to Court to serve Queen Cersei, where the young woman serves as a little spy for the Queen. The young woman has ambitions of her own regarding her house, wanting the title of heir of her house. Cersei promises to slip the servants moontea for her mother in order for no further heirs to be born in exchange of information. Joanna is aware that this also gives the queen an advantage to hang over her if she doubts her loyalties, like she waver after the Red Wedding, which she found horrific. Joanna has used her feminine charm as Cersei calls it to get information from knights and lords, and she fears the queen would speak of it. When the Queen is arrested, Joanna goes back to the Westerlands, like Taena, mostly to keep out of sight and quiet and a respite from the possibility of being taken too if the Faith finds out of her activties. With her grandfather growing ill and her father seen by many as unfit to rule, Joanna hopes to get the keys of the Castle to herself. Joanna was named after Cersei's mother herself, her father a close friend of the Lannisters. Joanna's plan is get herself a good husband and fast, and produce an heir, saying she will guardkeep the seat of her house for her future son until the time has come.