#agricultural land clearing

[kinglandclearing]

Professional Land Clearing Near Wilson: Preparing Your Land for Development

When clearing land for construction, farming, or other purposes, it’s essential to work with the right land clearing service provider. Whether you need to remove unwanted plant growth, stumps, or prepare the land for new construction, professional land clearing services ensure that the groundwork is done properly and efficiently. Welcome to King Land Clearing, your number one source for professional land clearing near Wilson, with affordable land clearing services for the preparation of your land to fit your planned use.

The Importance of Professional Land Clearing

It is not just chopping of trees and stumps, removal of rocks and other materials from the land. It is all about the proper soil preparation to address your requirements and at the same time address the concerns of the natural environment. The right land clearing service provider can turn your piece of land into a functional and accessible area.

1. Ensuring A Clean, Safe Environment

The first advantage of land clearing is safety, which is the most important factor that needs to be considered in any project. The growth of plants, bushes, hollow trees, and other similar items may become dangerous because they may catch fire, or their branches may fall on people or animals. If you have been wondering where to find land clearing services near me then you might want to know that your piece of land may require some work. 

2. Improving Drainage and Soil Quality

The issues that arise from poor drainage on your land include water logging and soil erosion. Other services that may be provided in the land clearing includes grading of the land and soil preparation for water to flow in the right manner so as to avoid soil erosion which makes construction a nightmare. King Land Clearing has expertise in improving the drainage systems on your land to improve the future development of the land.

3. Optimizing Land for Future Use

Whether it’s a new residential area, business complex, or agricultural land, proper land clearing in Wilson ensures the site is fully prepared for construction. This process removes not only trees but also roots, rocks, and all forms of debris, leaving a level foundation ready for any future development.

Why You Need a Professional Land Clearing Company

Land clearing services are not always simple and when you require them it is wise to hire a team that comprehends the extent of the job. In King Land Clearing, we offer quality services that are most suitable for your project. Here are a few reasons why hiring professionals is your best option:

1. Safety and Efficiency

Clearing land is a technical process that involves some machinery as well as some technique. Trying to level the land on your own can be risky, let alone a very time-consuming exercise. 

2. Expertise in Zoning and Regulations

Another important benefit of contracting with a professional land clearing service is that they understand the legal requirements of the area. If the land is cleared for example by farmers without going through the legal procedures then they are likely to be charged or have to pay huge amounts of money. 

3. Cost-Effectiveness

While it may be tempting to try to clear the land on your own or with the help of friends and family, it’s actually cheaper to hire a professional service for land clearing. Proper land clearing is important because the improper clearing of land may lead to extra charges or services needed like fixing of drainage issues or eradicating erosion.

Our Process: What to Expect from King Land Clearing

You can be sure of a team with experience and expertise when you hire King Land Clearing for your land clearing in Wilson. Here’s what you can expect when working with us:

1. Consultation and Planning

Our engagement begins with a comprehensive client interview process that seeks to clearly identify each client’s requirements and the requirements of the given project. It does not matter if it is a residential area to build a house, or a commercial area to develop a business, we adapt to the needs.

2. Site Inspection

Subsequently, we carry out an assessment of the site with the purpose of assessing the general characteristics of the plot in terms of terrain features, vegetation cover, and obstacles. It assists us in developing a clear strategy for the development of the land by clearing it.

3. Clearing and Grading

Till and contouring is an important part of site preparation no matter if it is for construction or farming. One works by compacting, grading, and sloping the ground to reduce problems of flooding or soil erosion in future. After clearing the land, cutting down trees, and eliminating stumps and debris and land grading, our team prepares your property for construction or planting. 

Trust King Land Clearing for All Your Land Clearing Needs

This is because at King Land Clearing, we boast of providing excellent services that are unique to your needs. Are you in Maysville, NC and looking for a Land Clearing service provider? You’ve come to the right place. No matter if you are planning for construction, agriculture or general land development, our team will be ready for the task.

[queers4years]

Indigenous Hawaiians really had a good system going: wake up reaaally early and do most of the days work while it's cool and by the time the sun was up and it got hot the work was done and you're free to surf and socialize. I wish the white people realized they themselves could work smarter and not harder and get time to relax. Instead of calling Hawaiians lazy (and being genocidal about it)

[notwiselybuttoowell]

West Papua’s Indigenous people have called for a boycott of KitKat, Smarties and Aero chocolate, Oreo biscuits and Ritz crackers, and the cosmetics brands Pantene and Herbal Essences, over alleged ecocide in their territory.

All are products that contain palm oil and are made, say the campaigners, by companies that source the ingredient directly from West Papua, which has been under Indonesian control since 1963 and where thousands of acres of rainforest are being cleared for agriculture.

More than 90 West Papuan tribes, political organisations and religious groups have endorsed the call for a boycott, which they say should continue until the people of West Papua are given the right to self-determination.

Raki Ap, a spokesperson for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, which is overseeing the call, said: “These products are linked to human rights violations, in the first place, because West Papuans are being forced, with violence, to get off the land where they’ve lived for thousands of years, which has now resulted in ecocide.

“This is a signal to the countries who are dealing with Indonesia, especially those in the Pacific region, to take notice of who they’re dealing with and how they are basically allowing Indonesia to continue the colonial project in West Papua, the human rights violations, and also ecocide.”

West Papuans say more than 500,000 of their people have been killed by the occupation in the past six decades, while millions of acres of their ancestral lands have been destroyed for corporate profit. Indonesia, already the world’s largest palm oil exporter, is now breaking ground in West Papua on the world’s biggest single palm oil plantation, as well as a sugar cane and biofuel plantation that will be the largest deforestation project ever launched.

“West Papuans’, especially the ULMWP, position is very clear: we are a modern-day colony,” said Ap, speaking from the Netherlands.

“Indonesia hijacked the right to self-determination in 1962 when the Netherlands and Indonesia signed an agreement without any consultation in West Papua … After that, in 1969, there was a so-called referendum, which wasn’t fair, which wasn’t under international law, one man, one vote: just 1,025 men were handpicked at gunpoint to vote for integration to Indonesia.

“So this is the foundation of the Indonesia’s colonial project. When we became part of Indonesia against our will, basically the genocide unfolded.”

[tenth-sentence]

Forests were cut down to make way for fields.

"Plagues Upon the Earth: Disease and the Course of Human History" - Kyle Harper

[richarlisonny]

they're not showing the spurs game on tv my brothers in lilywhite the pyjamas away kit actually STUNT ON THESE HOES

[reasonsforhope]

"A century of gradual reforestation across the American East and Southeast has kept the region cooler than it otherwise would have become, a new study shows.

The pioneering study of progress shows how the last 25 years of accelerated reforestation around the world might significantly pay off in the second half of the 21st century.

Using a variety of calculative methods and estimations based on satellite and temperature data from weather stations, the authors determined that forests in the eastern United States cool the land surface by 1.8 – 3.6°F annually compared to nearby grasslands and croplands, with the strongest effect seen in summer, when cooling amounts to 3.6 – 9°F.

The younger the forest, the more this cooling effect was detected, with forest trees between 20 and 40 years old offering the coolest temperatures underneath.

“The reforestation has been remarkable and we have shown this has translated into the surrounding air temperature,” Mallory Barnes, an environmental scientist at Indiana University who led the research, told The Guardian.

“Moving forward, we need to think about tree planting not just as a way to absorb carbon dioxide but also the cooling effects in adapting for climate change, to help cities be resilient against these very hot temperatures.”

The cooling of the land surface affected the air near ground level as well, with a stepwise reduction in heat linked to reductions in near-surface air temps.

“Analyses of historical land cover and air temperature trends showed that the cooling benefits of reforestation extend across the landscape,” the authors write. “Locations surrounded by reforestation were up to 1.8°F cooler than neighboring locations that did not undergo land cover change, and areas dominated by regrowing forests were associated with cooling temperature trends in much of the Eastern United States.”

By the 1930s, forest cover loss in the eastern states like the Carolinas and Mississippi had stopped, as the descendants of European settlers moved in greater and greater numbers into cities and marginal agricultural land was abandoned.

The Civilian Conservation Corps undertook large replanting efforts of forests that had been cleared, and this is believed to be what is causing the lower average temperatures observed in the study data.

However, the authors note that other causes, like more sophisticated crop irrigation and increases in airborne pollutants that block incoming sunlight, may have also contributed to the lowering of temperatures over time. They also note that tree planting might not always produce this effect, such as in the boreal zone where increases in trees are linked with increases in humidity that way raise average temperatures."

-via Good News Network, February 20, 2024

[venussaidso]

𝙈𝙖𝙜𝙝𝙖 & 𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙫𝙖 𝙋𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙜𝙪𝙣𝙞

Finally, Ketu x Venus serving through Hades and Persephone.

Fanart by momithastobeclever.

Persephone or Underworld feminine archetypes seem to be commonly played by Venus nakshatra natives.

Bharani Sun Rosario Dawson as Persephone.

Ketu's void is with Hades being the Lord of the Underworld — Ketu = poverty, detachment, hidden realms and darkness. So his appearance is dark and not abundant, he resides away from the land of the living, and his wealth is associated with hidden resources of the earth.

Technically, this is how the Ketu nakshatra-Venus nakshatra pairing conceptually looks like in this tale, with both nakshatra lords being combined with fire rashis. DeviantArt.

While Persephone is the Goddess of Spring — Venus = beauty, harmony, pleasure, and values. Hades' obsession with her is definitely due to their polarity. Magha and Purva Phalguni are yoni consorts, after all.

Magha Moon Cheyenne Jackson as Hades.

Hades is related to Wealth. This makes a solid connection to Magha nakshatra, as Magha's wealth is associated with the dead.

Purva Phalguni Sun & ASC Salma Hayek as an Underworld exotic dancer.

Purva Phalguni nakshatra is associated with pleasure, art, and romance. It is related to Bhaga, the god of marital bliss and prosperity, symbolizing the fulfillment of desires and the celebration of love, fruition, creativity etc. Blending so well with Persephone's purpose of being a goddess of flowers, vegetation and agriculture. In my Venus Dominant Themes post, I talked about Venusians finding themselves between crossroads, conceptually blending their beautifully harmonious nature with a violent or gothic side.

Persephone makes so much sense for Purva Phalguni as well, as this nakshatra is the final stage of creation. Magha nakshatra is related to the power of manifestation through detachment & other ascetic means.

Magha Moon Neville Goddard, the mystic writer who taught various self-help methods for testing his own claim that the human imagination is omnificent, therefore God. Coining the Law of Assumption and claiming himself a witness to his own manifesting powers.

Magha's relation with leaving the body associates to manifestation powers simply through the principle of detachment and accessing higher realms of consciousness. This idea of leaving the body is tied Ketu’s influence, which governs moksha (liberation), past life experiences, the ability to transcend the physical and to therefore master it (rather than getting caught up with it, as seen with Rahu's tendency to be immersed with Maya).

Mystic author & teacher, Magha Moon Lester Levenson. His Release Technique focuses on letting go of attachments to emotions and desires to clear the mind for effortless manifestation and mastery over the physical. He taught that by releasing egoistic attachments, one can access a state of pure being, allowing desires to manifest naturally.

Hades symbolically represents the power of manifestation, from themes of hidden wealth, transformation through detachment, and the unseen forces which shape reality.

Mula Sun Ralph Fiennes as Hades.

Mula nakshatra, through its natives, are often powerful agents of change. This is seen through Hades being a catalyst for Persephone's profound transformation from being the Goddess of Spring to the Queen of the Underworld. Mula nakshatra is ruled by Nirriti or Kali Ma, the goddess of dissolution and destruction. Persephone's identity essentially dissolves after he abducts her.

Marvel's Hela, portrayed by Ashwini Moons Cate Blanchett & Nika Futterman, is Ruler of the Underworld, just like Hades is in Greek Mythology.

Persephone symbolically represents the power of transformation between crossroads, the balance between light & dark, and cycles of renewal — serving as a bridge between the seen and unseen realms, as beautifully tied in Bharani nakshatra. Her myth embodies the themes of death & rebirth, and the integration of opposites, making her a symbol of absolute creation which complements Hades, who is impoverished in ways that she is abundant.

Bharani ASC Anya Taylor Joy as Sandie, a beautiful aspiring singer, who gets trafficked into an Underworld of sorts, very akin to the kidnapping of Persephone.

So the union of Magha and Purva Phalguni ultimately serves as a complete royal experience, as Magha is the throne & of hidden wealth and Purva Phalguni is the bed of pleasures & creation. Persephone becomes Queen of the Underworld beside her dark King.

Pinterest.

(more fictional Venus-Ketu pairs calling to these themes.)

[phopollo]

what are the backstories for the fuel trucks like in the cartooniverse? (im especially curious about hydras)

Oh i looooove talking about everyone backstories-- sorry this took so long to reapond to, I wanted to find a post for context, but I can't find it, so!

Context 1 (pardon old art and designs);

Context 2;

While most of the main cast were extremely young, there was something akin to a recession, as well as a HUUUUGE shift in power and whatnot, and not every station recovered from it

So!! With that-- backstories!

(Bit of a long one, sorry akdbsj)

Porter

Porter was factory built (the only one of our main freight gang who was) and sent to work at Station 24 (where our story is set) immediately, under the impression he would be the only fuel truck there. Upon arrival, he was surprised to find Lumber there, just not working on account of being too young and small, along with Rusty and Dinah. (Not like, super young though, Dinah was applying for clearance to race at the time & all 3 of them were cleared to start working within 2 years) All of whom IMMEDIATELY decided that this is their big brother now, he didnt have a choice in the matter. But, Momma saw the way he responded to and interacted with the kids, and thought he was really immature, so she made him wait a few months to start working. In that time, he ended up maturing quite a bit just trying to keep the others out of trouble, allowing him to finally begin working

Hydra

Hydra was built and raised by an electric engine who, like Hydra, is extremely concerned about the environment. But with hydrogen being such a new fuel source and being so unstable, he spent a lot of his childhood in and out of the repair shed-- more time in when he was younger. When he was about 15 or so, his dad & him went for a long term visit to station 24 on account of having better repair trucks with better information on hydrogen as a fuel source, where they then proceeded to find a new main repair truck for Hysda. Eventually, it just seemed more reasonable for Hydra to stay at Station 24 closer to hus doctor rather than having to travel back and forth. He was only cleared to start consistently working about 2 years before the start of the story. Even though he's in much more stable condition now, it still seems most reasonable to keep him near his doctor. Bonus Babydra & hydrogen father doodles I've made in the past;

Lumber

All things considered, Lumber had a relatively normal childhood. He was fortunate enough that he didn't really know there were problems with his station in the aftermath of the pretty much recession until shortly before he started hearing whispers that his starion was being shut down, which happened when he was roughly 12-13. When it happened, Lumber's family were all sent to different stations, landing Lumber at Station 24, where Momma took him in and where he's been since. (He keeps in contact with his family though, dw)

Slick

Slick was built into a family of livestock trucks who didn't work on the rails, but helped provide more agricultural goods to train society. Initially, Slick was not built to carry oil, she was built with the intention to be a milk tanker and work more directly with her family and continue in the business. But to make a long story short, there had been several incidents involving factories mass producing oil tankers made with extremely poor quality parts, causing a lot of breakdowns and scrappings, causing oil tankers to eaen a bad rep, and making more reputable factories not want the association. As a result, there was a bit of a (good quality) oil tanker shortage, leading to something almost akin to a draft going out to draft tankers who hadn't started working yet to become oil tankers-- and this included Slick, who at the time her family received it, technically wasn't even finished being built. Due to the shortage, Slick began working on the rails extremely early-- 2 years earlier than usual youngest rolling stock can start working early. When more and more stations started feeling the delayed affects of the recession and shutting down, the little business Slick's family ran did too, as many of the stations they received business from shut down. So similarly to Lumber, Slick ended up getting transferred to station 24 at 14-15, while the rest of her family got split up to find work at other stations. (She has no idea where they ended up and has no kept in contact.) Shes been here since. Bonus again, but this time the doodles of Slick's family, who are absolutely meant to feel reminiscent of the other freight + Rusty;

HOO

Sorry if that all got a little disjointed, the adhd was acting up BAD trying to write this all

[laughing-thrush]

Ha, I assumed it was about grackles! We’ve got brown headed cowbirds in Indiana, I’ve never heard of a shiny cowbird. Brown headeds have less iridescence and they don’t hang out in parking lots really, so you threw me for a sec lol

Comments in that parking lot bird poll is how I just learned that shiny cowbirds are a fairly recent introduction from South America who are only common in Florida, and not a nationwide feature of Walmarts

[probablyasocialecologist]

While they contribute little to society, welfare ranchers on public lands demand a lot in the form of subsidies whose scope is a testament to their outsize power and influence. It’s estimated the state and federal largesse to the industry amounts to between $500 million and $1 billion a year, all of it funded generously by the taxpayer. This includes below-market grazing fees for cows and sheep, fence construction, road building and maintenance, cattle guards, forage improvement and seeding programs, poisoning of unwanted vegetation, forest clearing, stream diversions, water projects such as dams, pipelines, aqueducts, stock ponds and troughs, the monitoring of livestock health, and control of predators and other mammalian and avian pests deemed a threat to the industry. The U.S. Department of Agriculture operates a specialized hunting and trapping unit—referred to by the Saboteur as “hired killers”—that slaughters tens of thousands of animals each year to aid public lands stockmen, including coyotes, beavers, and prairie dogs. Ranchers also receive generous federal and state tax write-offs for every cow they graze, along with reduced state property taxes for their private deeded lands. They are additionally “blow-jobbed,” as the Saboteur put it, by the very agencies that are supposed to be preventing their overstocking and overgrazing of public lands. The Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management are the primary culprits in this charade of regulation, in which it appears the cowboys run the show and the bureaucrats are their puppets. The industry is thus provided all kinds of preferential treatment and survives on the dole because in the arid conditions of the West, where the climate conspires against cattle production, it cannot do otherwise. “Western cattlemen are nothing more than welfare parasites,” wrote author Edward Abbey, the literary father of the eco-sabotage movement in the United States, who also observed that cattlemen “survive by hiding behind the cheap mythology of the ‘Cowboy’: literally, a boy who looks after cows.” Abbey was hardly alone in coming to this conclusion. Conservative pundit George Will opined that an inner-city mother on public assistance was “the soul of self-reliance compared to a westerner who receives federally subsidized range privileges.” The industry, naturally, wants ever more privilege. The primary advocacy group of ranchers who exploit the public domain is the Public Lands Council, which is funded and staffed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a political and cultural giant in the annals of lobbying. Every few years, the Public Lands Council issues a policy document to outline priorities for Congress and the White House. Katie Fite, an ecologist with the nonprofit Wildlands Defense in Boise, calls it the “Welfare Rancher’s demand letter.” “The Big Hats basically want super-duper extra special status for every welfare ranching permit holder,” she told me in an email, “because if you have herds of cows or sheep you are a Lord.” Among the common demands: the general annihilation of prairie dogs, a keystone species already 98 percent gone throughout the West but which ranchers still consider a pest; the stripping of Endangered Species Act protections for the trifling number of remaining grizzly bears and for “all species of wolves” in the United States; and rollbacks of key provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act, which requires environmental impact assessments of all commercial activities on federal lands, including ranching operations. The Public Lands Council has also sought to amend the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act so that wild horses can be killed because they compete for forage with cows. “They want wild horses in the West pretty much GONE,” Fite wrote me. “The Endangered Species Act rendered meaningless/GONE. They want a free hand to grossly pollute water. They attack just about everything good or positive with public lands and the environment.”

1 April 2025

[kinglandclearing]

The Importance of Professional Land Clearing Near New Bern for Your Property

If you are planning on developing your land, for farming, or even just cutting the weeds away, you need to hire a service to do some land clearing. Whether for new construction, agricultural increase, or simply for the desire of a smaller lot to work with, land clearing is the first step. There is no reason as to why your pieces of land cannot be developed fully and made to become fully functional and safe spaces.

In this blog, let’s discuss why land clearing services are required, benefits of hiring land clearing companies and how King Land Clearing might be beneficial for your project.

What is Land Clearing?

Bush removal entails the act of eliminating vegetation cover, rocks and other features from a piece of land in preparation for another use. This could have included construction and agricultural development of the land to merely provide more space for a recreation area or developing better drainage. You might think that land clearing is as easy as just getting rid of the earth’s surface, but this is not the case at all.

Workers not only clear main conflicts but they also make sure the site is ready for such conflicts not to happen in the future for instance, soil erosion or water run off. Other companies on the market including King Land Clearing offer full-scale property clearing services, guaranteeing that the area will be ready for its planned utilization without harming the environment.

Why You Need Professional Land Clearing Services

There are several reasons why hiring a professional for land clearing near New Bern is a smart choice. Below are some of the most important benefits:

1. Efficiency and Expertise

Land clearing can not be said to involve picking a chainsaw and hacking down trees without interference. Eradicating vegetation and undergrowth from a particular piece of land or an assigned land area may be tedious and time consuming depending on one or both of the following factors; Local professional services for land clearing know well what equipment and instruments to use for the work to be completed fast and effectively. This means that you will require less time before you start your project and also before you can prepare the land to suit any that you may wish to undertake.

Veteran firms such as King Land Clearing understands various problems that may occur when undertaking land clearing such as stump grinding and extensive root removal issues, rock clearing and leveling of land among others. When you hire an experienced team, you avoid common pitfalls that would end up postponing your project or even damaging your property.

2. Environmental Responsibility

The failure to perform research on the negative effects of every land clearing exercise has negative consequences including affecting the ability of the land to grow plants, causing soil erosion, eliminating natural habitats for animals, and affecting the drainage system. Professionals in land clearing available near me understand the most effective techniques in environmental management.

More specifically regarding disposal, King Land Clearing compiles and properly disposes or recycles organic material, and stabilizes the land if erosion is a concern. This way the area may be utilized effectively to a maximum years of usage after a clearance has been made.

3. Safety First

It is dangerous to work with land because it involves felling of trees, excavation, earthmoving among others which poses a challenge when dealing with large trees, rocky and sloppy land and also there are problems that arise from underground trees such as rocks and roots. Hire for the work requires professional land clearing techniques, tools and equipment since the activity is dangerous to human life and infrastructures.

Types of Projects That Require Land Clearing Services

Here are some of the common reasons people need professional land clearing services:

Construction Site Preparation: Underneath, land clearing and grading are required in preparing the site for construction of a home, commercial building, or outbuilding. Local land clearing companies like King Land Clearing have many years of experience in clearing land for construction.

Agricultural Expansion: Irrespective of whether one is establishing more farmland or preparing for rearing of animals, cleared land is important in farming.. Part of the process involves making the land accessible, and removing vegetation can also help enhance the yield rate on the crops planted on the piece of property.

Recreational Areas: If you are going to design the recreation area like a park, trail or an open field, then natural boundaries including trees, shrubs and other hurdles should be brought down so as to make the area accessible.

Residential Landscaping: No matter whether you are planning to plant your lawn, garden, or an outside living area, land clearing may lend a hand by getting rid of huge trees or unnecessary wastes.

[thedansemacabres]

ARES CHTHONIOS, DEFENDER OF LAND

[IMG ID: A photograph of a dark, smoky landscape that turns the sun a brightly-dim red hue. The background is obscured by the ash, with tall trees in the distance. In the foreground is a single house, the blue hidden by the dark ash, with tall oak trees to the right accompanied by a visible large SUV. The scene is dark and dreary].

I HAVE HAD A HARVEST OF GOOD CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE TOPIC OF DIVINE ARES, especially as of late, and I have begun to find a deeper appreciation for the theos. Beyond what many hellenic pagans have said, of him using rage for justice and an aspect of revolution, in my personal research I found another related Ares: the Ares of Ge, the land defender, close to the Erinys and fertility goddesses, and who casts his dice based upon holy Dike’s will. Ares was a popular deity in antiquity, worshipped across the ancient world, especially in Asia Minor with his likely syncretism with a local deity and Iliac connections. I will begin to follow a journey with Ares to understand him as more than war and slaughter, similar to my endlessly loving dea Bellona, and thus I have found Ares Chthonios.

This will be a general survey of his historical cult and my understanding of it based upon my own actions in activism, land sovereignty, and also my understandings from the devotion to the war, retribution, and revolution goddess Bellona. I will interlude my personal interpretations, but I hope these are clear, and I urge those interested to see my bibliography to understand more about Ares in a less frenzied context. 

ARES, DEFENDER OF LAND 

A strong function of war in antiquity was the defence of land. War often meant the burning of crops and homes, the raping of women, slaughter of children, destruction of hearths, and sometimes even the destruction of sacred groves of the gods. Sanctuaries could also be raided and plundered, such as the case in Rome, and their goods appropriated for other deities and personal use. Another aspect of war was civil control, as states did not desire rebellion. For this we begin to see the binding of gods, Ares, but also Dionysos. The ancient world did not have the food security that we do—and imagining life without more readily stable food, defending land becomes not only a necessity, but an ethical move. Siege spells death through Limos. Without land, you cannot access the hearth of Hestia, nor is there security from enslavement by other poli in antiquity. 

Ares’ less war-bound primary functions lie in this defence of land. He was widely worshipped, with some facets of this worship were for the purpose of defending the homeland. 

He is described as a personification of the yeoman-hoplite, who was also likely a farmer that arose to defend his homeland and farm in times of war. Cultic evidence suggests that he was also often paired with fertility goddesses, such as Despoina, Chthonia, the Anatolian Mother Kybele, and of course Aphrodite. He lacks the direct agricultural association of Mars, but he possesses the inherent relation to the chora: thus placed in the city’s sacred groves.

Us modern people concerned with justice tend towards movements such as land back and decolonialism. Xenia does not permit us to be bad to foreigners and xenophobia is a pillar of modern bigotry. Ares’ power may be used to brandish the spear in the defence of land—especially in these ages of growing oligarchies and fascism, the defense of land and home becomes ever more important. His passion and rage lend well to an activist from giving up, giving us strength to continue on. Instead of empowering doom, we may pray for Ares’ courage in the fights present and cultural wars to come just as the homeric hymnal asks for his courage and manliness to investigate the worshipper. 

ARES, OF THE GROVE 

Worship of Ares is also often found in sacred groves. As a defender of chora, it is internal sense to place him within nature. His shrines were also found in the countryside in the network of interpolis social and spatial focal politics. His association with the Earth is enough to call him one of the theoi chthonoi and more for than just bloodshed. As Cults and Sanctuaries of Ares and Enualios summarises: 

Ares, it would seem, was believed to stand guard over the agricultural land of the polls and served the divine patron of its human protectors as well. When enemies threatened, it was Ares who guided the warriors of the polls in their attempt to pay back their enemy. Thus the mythology of Ares, in which he is almost always opposes the aggressor and is often roused to action by an attack against his children,reflects the essentially parochial and reactive nature of a god intent on the defense of the land under his protection (Gonzales, pg 61). 

As a defender of land, he is keen to strike against those that threaten his children: he attempts to avenge Askalaphos in the Iliad, he fights Herakles for the body of his son Kyknos, he avenges the death of the Drakon Ismenios by transforming Kadmos and Harmonia, and he avenges the rape of his daughter Alkippe. Ares is a god of protection in his own right.

Another remark is that Ares is connected to drakons, symbols of the protection alongside chthonic earth, and groves as a whole. He fathers a drakon and snakes are commonly associated with him, his sacred grove that contains the fleece also contained a drakon. Another remark from the book on his binding to the land states; 

The oracle from Pamphylian Syedra, once again, most clearly articulates the associations between, Ares, Dike, and the well being of the polis and its chora. Physically bound to the city and its land, the power of Ares would function both as an avenging protector and guarantor of prosperity: “thus will he become a peaceful god for you, once he has driven the enemy horde far from your land, and he will give rise to prosperity much prayed for..” (Gonzales, 62.) 

This oracle will be revisited later, but there is a clear line of Ares and protection of the land. 

ARES, OF THE PEOPLE

Defending land is equally the defence of people. Undoubtedly there were ancient Greek warriors that would fight to return home, such as Odysseus, and countless unnamed people. Particularly in the context of Iliac Ares, arete is positioned in war as related to material goods and the sadness women and people express at warriors dying relates to their failure as a warrior; their failure becoming agathos. An agathos brings dishonor and shame as he is not able to defend his home, often leaving women and children in distress (Mary, 4). In Iliac poetry, when a warrior lives, he is then chosen by Ares to uphold his Arete. When it comes to Iliac Ares, it makes me wonder about the portrayal of Ares in relation to this—Ares’ humiliation in the Iliad could be related to this idea of failing Arete. 

In this context of ancient society, Ares is enjoyed by common people who take an active role in the pursuits of war. He was invoked by the state for purposes of defending it, much as Apollon was used for colonialism and in war. Ares as the causal force of war, the dangerous slayer, also rallies people to join in union for the fight, 

Plutarch quotes Archilochus, a poet from Paros, also active in the seventh century, as describing the beginning of the close combat within a battle as Ares bringing together the press of battle on the plain. This idea also appears in a mid-fifth century inscription from Samos, in which Ares is described as having brought together the ships of the Greeks and the Medes in battle. Alcaeus’ Ares is the cause of war, and Archilochus’ Ares brings armies together in the conflict which, as other poets tell us, is Ares’ domain (Millington, 113). 

Another small note from Pindar is him positioning Zeus, god of the polis and the people, as an ally to Ares. The Iliad employs an adversarial relationship between them, but Zeus is also a noted war god—elsewhere it is remarked that Apollon’s lyre tames the spear of Ares and the thunderbolt of Zeus. War and the Warrior: Functions of Ares in Literature and Cult describes the friendlier relationship of Zeus and Ares as, 

In his first Pythian Ode, Pindar describes Ares and Zeus as an allied pair,contrasted with Typhon and the forces of chaos, implying that Ares is integrated into, rather than an enemy of the city and civilization (Millington, 128). 

Thus Ares may be compositied with the other theoi as a defender of people. And looking at his name in epithets of other gods—Athena Areia, Aphrodite Areia, Zeus Areios—he is not constantly of strife, but rather comes into unity with the other gods. His association with the Erinyes only puts this as more explicit, as he avenges the blood oath—giving power to the appropriate parties in the Oresteia to avenge the blood-curse. Just as he is mentioned with Dike, the Homeric hymn pairs him as an “aid to Themis” and “ally of mortals” (Rayor, 99).

ARES BEYOND STATELY VALUES

I do critique any reconstructionist that is going to say “chain Ares”, which while in the modern period refers to limiting or constructing, in the ancient world it was to chain Ares’ power to your homeland in particular. It was to ensure his power, by Hermes, would be favoured and stay on your side. Ares’ worship may be further stood in antiquity through this—the Homeric hymn asks to “quell the rebellious”, which for a state would be a primary function of Ares as he could bring civil strife. From a critical perspective, Ares’ worship in this capacity I believe traces back to a rebellious nature—this is a god that can easily bring civil war and revolution, thus he is worshipped to appease this nature and thus secure stability. Then, equally, as a god that brings bloodlust and rage, he also brings peace and the restraint of bloody desires. A function of worship for many in the ancient world is aversion. The same hymnal remarks on Ares to bring courage, not fear, and to tame bloody desires. 

Considering the need to chain and appease Ares, this to my personal understanding shows a deity deeply concerned with the state in a negative manner to said state. He is a vengeance deity, associated with blood-curses, found in actions such us Klytiemennstra’s revenge. Taking a note from my own dea, my understanding of Ares is that he operates as a vengeance god who contests the state on the basis of state injustice. The gods are far more progressive than ancient Greek society was—considering slavery, misogyny, and strife, I find it of no surprise a god of defending land and vengeance would be such a contrarian force. 

I also think of Harmonia, his daughter. A god who was entirely hate and terror would not father the personification of musical and societal harmony. Many of Ares’ children function in harmonic rather than wholly negative roles—even if Eros is sweet and bitter. 

BELLONA, ARES, AND REVOLUTION

Bellona is the roman warrior and hero of excellence, she holds virtue, victory, and retribution in her hands. Rome before the empire understood war as an act of revenge—Rome tried to create and self-justify expansion as a revenge and divine retribution. She essentially acts as a fury. But this retribution and balancing of the scales could turn inwards, and thus, Rome was in tension with her to stay of moral righteousness, lest she bring down her whip upon the city and strike up civil war. Her methods are bloody and furious, deeply caring about wrongs committed, and very rewarding to the righteous and good that follow. 

I see my dea as a goddess of justice, as retribution for wrong that is done is often a key component of justice. Compared to Justicia, who was used for imperial propaganda, Bellona became sidelined in the times of the empire but her popularity did not wane. In this I see a homoplasy between these two gods: Ares’ masculinity would naturally contribute to his more stately portrayal than Bellona, but he is in enough tension with the polis to require a binding by Dike and Hermes from anxious polis religions. And as he is guided by Dike, justice herself, he must often have very good reason to be a volatile causal force. 

Less on my interpretative notes, this quote gives an idea to modernised Ares worship:

Pamphylians of Syedra, who inhabit a rich land of mixed men in shared fields, plant a statue of bloody, man-slaying Ares in the middle of the city and beside (him) perform sacrifices as you bind him with the iron bonds of Hermes, and on the other side let Justice administer the law and judge him; let him resemble a suppliant. Thus will he become a peaceful deity for you, once he has driven the enemy horde far from your country, and he will give rise to prosperity much prayed for. And you, at the same time, take great pain, either chasing them or placing them in unbreakable bonds, and do not, out of fear of the pirates, pay their terrible penalty. For thus will you escape from all degradation (Gonzales, 2010, 280).

Ares here is directly connected to prosperity and defense of people. And most of all, he can be peaceful. One of Ares’ essential traits is his endless bloodlust and rage, which when guided by justice, gives rise to holy revolution and the passionate urge to do good. He as the gods of these things also gives my senses a modern interpretation of a passage in the homeric hymnal: 

Mighty Ares, gold-helmed chariot master, shield-bearer, bronze-armored city guard, strong-willed,  strong-armed, untiring spear strength, defense of Olympos, father of Victory in war, aid to Themis, tyrant to enemies, leader of righteous men, wielding manhood’s scepter, your red orb whirling  among the seven paths of the planets through the ether where your fiery stallions bear you above the third orbit (Rayor, 99).

While quelling rebellion, it is stated that he also leads the righteous. For a personal interpretation, I can easily see it as such: rebellious men are quelled, but righteous men are led, and oftentimes the revolutionary is a person aspiring for right societal change—the feminist argues against the coil and chains of sexism, the indigenous revolutionary against colonialism, and many such examples. I would never shame the rightful anger of a revolutionary. And this is another aspect of Ares I see: his anger and bloodlust may be channelled for the purpose of societal equity-health and stability. Tyrants in ancient Greece were not initially viewed poorly, but after the ancient Greco-Persian war, tyrants became viewed as an enemy of people and democracy. Ares’ hymn thus describes a stance against tyranny, requiring no imagination for the modern day. 

ENDING NOTES

This post is both a survey and a modern look at the evidence. I urge everyone interested to read Cults and Sanctuaries of Ares and Enyalios: A Survey of the Literary, Epigraphic, and Archaeological Evidence to gain a better understanding of him and to develop the historical literacy on Ares. And for Ares’ darker associations, there are plenty of other texts expressing the rightful  pessimism on war. As a fragment of Archilochus says, Ares is “common” to all people, and war affects us all. But this side of Ares does not have to be the one that people still know him for—he is like my dea in this, still bloodshed and slaughter, but he is also a defender and protector. Just as Dionysos drives people mad and Apollon kills through plague, Ares embodies the dualities and complexities of the conflict. I find it depressing that Ares has not been uncoupled or understood in his darker aspects compared to Athena or Apollon. Several are quick to pick away Athena’s war aspects as a vintage value, even her historical misogyny, but not Ares. This I find to be a shame. 

If you liked this post, please consider checking out this post on my wordpress!

References 

Gonzales, M. P. (2004). Cults and sanctuaries of Ares and Enyalios: A Survey of the Literary, Epigraphic, and Archaeological Evidence.

Gonzales, M. (2010). The oracle and cult of ares in Asia minor. DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals). https://doaj.org/article/e9173c9623d24726bc11a08093a1df74

Lewis, & Sian. (2025, March 10). Tyranny | Meaning & Facts. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/tyranny/Greek-tyrants

Meghan Poplacean, D. (2017). The Business of Butchery Bellona and War, Society and Religion from Republic to Empire. The Department of History and Classical Studies  McGill University, Montréal. https://escholarship.mcgill.ca/concern/theses/b8515q959

Millington, A. (2014). War and the Warrior: Functions of Ares in Literature and Cult. In Doctoral thesis, UCL (University College London). https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1427880/

Scott, M. (1979). PITY AND PATHOS IN HOMER. Acta Classica, 22, 1–14. http://www.jstor.org/stable/24591563

Serrati, J. (2022). Gender and the Ritual Lament: Women as the Arbiters of Aretē and Virtus, 2022. Ageless Aretē: Essays From the 6th Interdisciplinary Symposium on the Hellenic Heritage of Sicily and Southern Italy.

[deepfivetraveller]

King Baldwin iv x Time!Traveller!reader

Chapter 4

chapter 3 here

“However I have one small request.”

All the men look at each other. “And what might that be?”

She takes a small breath. “Please ensure I only get the appropriate reward I deserve. I do not wish to be flattered by sparkling treasures.”

A higher status would mean destruction to the trust you built with your customers. Not only that, you would be a target among high ranking nobles. 

“Very well.” The king agrees. “I bestow you the title of Dame” He looks with curiosity, trying to think what you’d do with the title. “You shall also receive a small manor where you can reside. I wish you the very best for your new beginning, Lady Y/n.”

Hmm. The title of a female knight was not bad. Only thing was she didn’t do anything knight-worthy. 

Another man speaks up. “We shall provide a physician to learn our nation's medicine. He’s one of the best. I’m sure, combining your country's knowledge with ours will prove successful.”

“Of course.” Yea right. The knowledge of a highschool graduate would totally help curing some ancient king. She wasn’t hopeful about his condition.

She bowed again, signalling she was to leave the room. King Baldwin nodded and the lady exited the room. The moment she did, dozens of documents were dropped onto her hands, all about her title and the new land under her name. The king’s bedroom door closed, while two people emerged out of the pillar in front. 

“How did it go?” The guard who escorted you, didn’t look as stoic as before. No, He was worried.

“Well… apparently I’m a dame now.” Y/n announces, almost dazed from the sudden shock of it all.

“Wonderful news! You’re the only female knight of the country.” A female servant explains. “Has his majesty given you any other reward?”

“A manor.” Your voice trails, taking one of the documents. “In the middle of Jerusalem's agricultural fields by the looks of it. Honestly the travel time is perfect from the manor to the castle.”

“Wait what?” She asked abruptly. “Sorry.” The servant clears her throat. “Can I inquire why, my lady?”

She sighs. “I’ve been put incharge of treating his majesty.” Seriously, all you did was feed oranges and now you’re in charge of curing the country’s most important man.

“That’s…Not what I thought would happen.” The guard seems even more worried, though she can’t pinpoint why. “By any chance, have you been granted a physician to inquire about his majesty’s illness?”

“Not quite, I’ve been provided a physician to learn about your country's medical procedures, but I’m sure they’ll also tell me about the king's ailments. Why do you ask?”

“Oh no.” The woman looks at the knight pitying the new noble.

“What’s wrong?”

“Well it’s just that…” She gulps. “My lady, you’ve probably been assigned a man named Omar Jahid. He was one of the physicians gifted by king Salahuddin. However he is an egoistic, self-centered, haughty Bicot” A nerve pops up on her forehead.

“I-It seems you speak from experience…” The lady smiles crooked. “However, I don't expect much. Almost every professional in their field has some form of anger issue. Take Gordon Ramsay for cooking.”

The guard looks confused. “Who?”

“A famous person from my nation.”

Frustratingly enough, the Lady was only given two weeks to adopt  into her new life. “Here are the books you requested.” The young girl with freckles hands them to you. “Thank you Margaret.” The girl gives a polite smile and urgently resumes other tasks.

‘Quite the hard worker you are.’ Screen reads from a distance. ‘I’m sure your basic knowledge you received from the modern era will be more than enough.’

The Dame soon came to realise that was not true. While searching for servants to hire, she had learned a lot about this world. The class system, the law and even some basic etiquette. She soon came to the realisation that although this era lacked technological advancements, it was still a functioning and organised society. Unlike how TV shows portrayed the people of this era too, didn’t accept social standards. Yes, women did get the same amount of education as that for a man, but only for nobility. Yes, slavery does exist but so does equality in its own way.

“I need to meet the gardener now.” She gets up from her seat. “Let's see what he's done.”

As you walk (and screen hovers), the feeling of anxiety still runs behind your mind. That physician, seems to have a reputation of scaring disciples away and you were not quite sure you could take him head on. Secondly, you’re an atheist present in a country of christianity, although you can make up an excuse since you’re clearly not from Jerusalem. Your spice stall is gaining a profit on the good side. It seems that people have realised your stall is one of the few that sells unadulterated goods.

 Both dame and screen arrive at the garden, covered with flowers of soft and vibrant textures. “Crispin.” She calls out one of the boys present. “M’Lady!” The young man with brown hair gets up from his knees, ignoring the task of trimming bushes. She gracefully asks, “Where is Thomas?”

“He’s somewhere out there, near the trees.” Crispin points.

“Thank you.” She leaves the area. While walking towards Thomas, the head gardener of the manor, she sees him instructing a few people. “Use the fertilizer near the blueberry patches.” He says with disgust. “And water those…things. Whatever they are.” He aggressively points at the orange trees.

“Thomas.” Y/n calls. He seizes his work and turns. “Lady Y/n.”

“How are the trees?” She smiles.

“Look at it yourself M’Lady. ” Thomas looks high up, gazing at the coconut trees.

“Perfect.” Her ecstatic mood brightens the servants around. “Can someone please grab one?” She looks hopeful. Surely enough, someone does take one of it down.

“Thank you.” You look at Thomas. “Although it looks like a giant nut, it’s actually a fruit. Cracking it will give us the sweet water present inside.”

“Do you want to try some?” The Dame suggests. No wonder, he was taken aback by great shock.

“M’lady I don’t know if you’re tryin to test me or remind me of my position, but I'll decline.” It came out a little gruff than he expected.

“I just need the shell” She hurriedly replies. “I can’t drink all that’s in here. Please help me out.”

“...”

A few minutes later

“It's actually not that bad.” He remarks, surprised. “Do these plants grow in your hometown M’Lady? ”

“You can say that.” She takes a sip from her copper cup.

“I can see why someone would want the juice, but why the shell?”

“I think it’ll be of use later on…” She looked at the coconut husk being turned to ash.

‘Are you sure about this?’ Screen follows you as you walk. ‘You could just buy some antifungal cream or something’  I’m pretty sure he’ll be impressed.'

“And what if he asks how I made it?” You shut the creature. “I might have ruined the future just by introducing a fruit, I’m not taking any risks. From now on, that online store is just a hub for creating money in an emergency.” You stood still at the gate of the majestic house.

“And how may I address you to Lord Omar Jahid?”

“Lady Y/n L/n.”

“I see.” The guard replies. “He’s been awaiting you. Please come.” He shows inside, while the other guards open the giant door.

After waiting in the drawing room for what seemed like 10 minutes, Omar arrived, dressed simple but elegantly. You waste no time standing up. “Lord Omar.”

“Lady Y/n”. He slyly looks at you top to bottom, judgingly. A realisation occurs. “You brought no servants?”

“I didn’t want to burden them. They already have difficulties adjusting to a new manor and changing their schedule for a mere visit might be hectic for them.”

Mere visit? He was a royal physician for God's sake. Was she illiterate or was it her way of telling him she does not value him? When he got the news that a woman, an untrained commoner, was incharge of treating the king he was flabbergasted. 

“Unbelievable.” He chuckles under his breath. “Tell me, You haven’t come empty handed have you?”

“Of course not. I have come up with a few ways to reduce the scars of leprosy but I’ve seem that—”

“Wait.” He interrupted. “Have you tested it out?”

“No…” Y/n slowly replies. “I thought we could test it out on another patient but…”

“Yes?”

“The method might come off… unconventional.”

“That doesn’t surprise me, most methods are usually like that. Tell me, what is it?”

“...Molded bread.”

Omar blinked rapidly. “So your way of treating leprosy is to make the king eat stale bread?” You can feel that insulting tone sticking onto your skin like honey.

“Actually it’s to place the molded bread on the affected areas of skin.” Dead silence enveloped the room.

“Okay that—” He sighs. But his eyes brighten in a moment. “It could work.” You can’t exactly pinpoint how, but there seems to be something more fishy than hope in his eyes.

“Come with me, Madame.” He paces out of the room fastly, and she follows. 

“Where are we going?”

“To the Domus Leprosorium. Wear this cloth mask.” He takes it out of a servant's pocket he was standing next to. 

“B-But I don’t even have stale bread!”

“That’s fine, I’m very much confident they have it”

Upon leaving the house, both enter separate carriages. ‘Seriously? Molded bread? You expect THAT to work?’ Screen pops up. 

“It’s an early stage antibiotic.” She answers, not even looking at the inanimate being, trying her best to focus on the physician’s carriage seeing him read a book. The ride went silently from then on but her eyes still lingered on Omar. 

Quickly, the vehicle came to a halt. “That was fast.” You remark.

The Dame wastes no time in getting down, almost tripping while doing so. Omar only waits till you stand up and dashes into the hospital.

While the both walk, the Dame sees countless patients bedridden. She knows leprosy is not a disease that transfers quickly in physical contact but is still very grateful for the mask.

The two nobles quickly reach a well-ventilated room that has plenty of sunlight. It almost looked like an apothecary, without the herb cabinets. There, she notices slices of bread, all molded up, neatly arranged.

“This is what you meant right?” He points. “I shall fill your forms stating your medical trials using this. Come let’s—”

“Stop.” You affirm boldly. “It doesn’t make sense.” Omar frowns.

“It makes perfect sense”, now hurry–”

“You were so repulsed working with a commoner not some time ago, but now you’re so eager?” He freezes.

The Dame crosses her arms. “You know. You know this is how ancient Egyptians treated infected cuts and scrapes. In fact, every royal physician knows about this treatment, but don’t dare to use it.” She takes a step forward while he takes one back.

“You…You’re using me as a human shield.”

“What?” He pretends to be confused. “Your ideas are preposterous.”

“You’re scared. No, everyone’s scared they will be punished if they try this. After all, His majesty is not your true master.” He gulps.

“If the method works, which it partially will, you’ll kill me. And if it doesn’t, you’ll frame me for treason. After all, nobody cares if the king’s suffering ends, they just want to profit from it.” You take one of the slices of bread and stare.

“The physicians get to keep their job, and the Muslims get to keep this land.” The last part comes out laced with anger.

“You and every other physician, are spies sent by Salahuddin.” You calmly state.

“Don’t you dare utter his name—”

“Why do you care?” The Dame clenches her hand, scrunching the slice. “You’re an atheist anyway. I don’t think a man such as you will respect a head of a religion if you don’t believe in God in the first place.”

 He sighs, frowning. “How did you know?” 

“No Muslim would willingly enter Christian land if they don’t even have a proper place to pray. I don’t know about the other physicians but you certainly don’t seem bothered about it at all.”

This didn’t occur in your original timeline. Your presence has completely changed everything. Even with your limited knowledge in history, you knew this isn’t how Baldwin dies.

“My nation is currently trying this very method to cure leprosy. Although, I can openly admit about this while you can’t.” You sit on the marble table. “Quite funny, this geopolitics. Saying my nation's name might avoid persecution and give you an escape from this lifestyle.” He catches your idea quickly.

“Spare my life. Take the credit. Use my nation's name to cure him, I’ll even provide you with proper evidence it is, in fact, from my nation.”

“How are you so sure it’ll work?”

“It will because it has before.” She stated him dead in the eyes. “Go on, no need to conduct trial runs. Test it on his Majesty using your own name. It won’t cure him completely but will decrease its spreading. However if you even think about harming his majesty I shall strip you of everything you have.” You lean in closer. “You have a son and a daughter waiting for you at home. Think about it.”

As you storm off the hospital, screen pops up ‘How did you know all of that?’

“I bribed his servants.”

‘Really? That simple?’

“...And gossip with the maids of my manor…and the castle.”

“I can’t believe he actually told my name. That too moments before he quit.” You sit on your bed, shocked from it all.

‘I can’t believe you didn’t expect him to. Your name can’t be ignored if your country is mentioned y’know?’

“I know but still whatifigetputinadungeorsoemthing. ”

‘What?’

“Whatifigetputina—-”

“NothankyouscreenI'mfine.”

“Girl you okay? If you want to calm your nerves I can access Ao3 or something but please don’t read anything other than fluff this time.” It recalls the war flashbacks from a few days ago.

‘Clearly NOT. I’m not good with this emotional stuff. Call Margaret or someone.’ It pops away. Heeding to its advice, she rings the bell in her room and Margeret arrives.

“Yes my lady?” The girl arrives graciously, awaiting orders.

“HelpmeMargeretIdon’tknowwhattodo.”

“Ah.” she realises. “There’s no need to be nervous my lady, this is not the first time you’re meeting the king so I don’t understand the need for the nervousness.”

True. But the last time you were dragged by crusaders immediately to the castle. Now you were given time to think, spiking your anxiety.

“Still…” You pout.

She giggles. “My lady, you're acting more childish than me.”

“What would you do if you were to meet the king?” You reason, hugging the pillow

“Oh I’d faint on sight.” She accepts the truth. “What kind of man is he?”

“I only met him once.” You look dead-panned.

“More than me. Tell me, how was he to you?”

Memories flowed like a  calm river in your brain. The moment passed fast. The only two constants you could remember were his blue eyes and your weirdly fluttering heartbeat. 

“He was kind. Even though he was sick, he was level headed.” The dame chuckles.

“I remember when I was sick when I was eight.” The ginger replies.  I don’t remember much but It was deadly. According to my brother, I was the crankiest during then.”

“It takes true strength to be kind during the toughest times…” You trail off your voice. Margaret notices your quelled down anxiety, but lack of uncertainty. 

“Would you like to have your favorite dish as dinner?” She suggests and you nod. “I’ll inform the chef and prepare your dress for tomorrow.” 

As she leaves the room, you call her once more. “Yes M’lady?”

“Thank you…for the words.”

The girl’s smile radiates the whole room. “Your welcome, M'lady.”

Surprisingly, the carriage ride didn’t cause you car sickness. “Gerald”. You call him.

“Yes?” It was the same guard who escorted you before, carrying out the same duties as before

“How is his majesty?” You question.

“Quite alright now. His health has drastically improved due to your help. Although I must say I was perplexed when I found out the method of treatment.”

You chuckle. “It is unusual, but the results show.”

“I was informed you shall be meeting his majesty at a lounging area and not in his bedroom like last time. You need not be nervous. It'll be the same as the previous encounter, just surrounded by his physicians, that's all.”

“...Thank you Gerald.” Was it really that obvious?

A nice conversation lasted inside the carriage. Both talked about the mundane aspects of their life - like the comedy her servants perform while he related it to his work life. This small period of bliss lasted for a short span. It didn’t take long for the both to reach the castle.

The guard got down first to help the lady, and she graciously accepted. The pathway was almost the same as the last time you entered the castle but with two extra rights. Briefly, both stood next to a luxurious door. You waited anxiously as another set of guards opened them and didn’t waste a second to enter.

The inside looked like a living room. And king Baldwin sat at the centre, next to his physicians.

“Your majesty.” The noble curtsies.

“My lady.” The king allows her to relax. “I cannot thank you enough. You and your efforts have tremendously helped me and my nation.” He takes a breath through his metal mask. “Tell me, do you wish for anything? Do not feel shy, speak your heart.”

“Thank you. I have a wish.” You look down. “This wish isn’t particularly for me but will help all. ”

“Go on.” He leans a bit closer to you.

Alright, here it goes. “Please dismiss your personal physicians…forever.”

All eyes turned towards you. It felt as if you were stabbed by a thousand swords all over your body. The Dame needed to give the king an explanation for her actions but her fear paralysed her entire body. 

‘Oh God. This is the end. I knew I shouldn’t have done that. NOW I'M GONNA DIE.’ Her thoughts are interrupted. 

“It seems it's no longer a secret.” He sighs. “If a foreigner knows, everyone in the nation knows.” He calls. “Guards, seize everyone in the room other than the lady.”

Someone yells .“Your Majesty! We are representatives of Malik Salahuddin! If you harm us, he will not stand idly by.”

“That's enough. I’ve bared your presence for too long and gave Salahuddin too much comfort.” Baldwin stared directly in your eyes. “Thank you for bringing me back to my senses, physically and mentally.”

“You knew???” You screeched.

“I am not stupid enough to have none of my own countrymen as physicians.” He turned and watched all the men being dragged away. “They informed me. I thought keeping his spies by my side would make my enemy feel as if he had control, but I failed to notice the grasp was tight enough to stop my recovery.” 

“But even my actual physicians didn’t have a clue about the method you used for me.” He looks at you again with the corner of his eyes peeking through the mask. 

“According to the public, I have no physicians as of the moment.” Baldwin gets up. ‘Lady Y/n L/n, I hereby give you the task of finding new physicians for me. You may use all of my resources. But until then…’ He comes closer.

“You are responsible for treating me.” He smiles under his mask.

[saywhat-politics]

Tech billionaire tapped for head of Forest Service cleared national land to make room for private airstrip: 'Illegally operating an airport'

The man in line to lead the U.S. Forest Service has "clashed" with the agency for years over private use of public lands, the New York Times reported.

On Tuesday, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry held a confirmation hearing to discuss the appointment of Michael Boren, per ABC News.

Boren is an Idaho ranch owner and founder of a billion-dollar tech company — and he's had more than one run-in with the Forest Service in recent years as well as confrontations with residents who have objected to his activities.

[apas-95]

What do you think is the best/most efficient/least environmentally damaging way to feed the entire population of the world if we had global communism or whatever

Heavy industry.

Currently, the issue is this -- there is a limited amount of land and water available at any given time. Our food production all, ultimately, depends on plants. Either we eat plants directly, or we grow plants to feed to animals we then eat.

With this in mind, it is clear that industrial animal agriculture has inherent inefficiencies. A cow that eats soybeans and cornfeed is using over 90% of its energy to heat its body, and of the remaining portion, much goes to locomotion, thinking, etc. It is genuinely, within our agricultural system, a massive waste that a battery chicken is born with legs and a brain. In the wild, these would pay for themselves -- a chicken uses its legs and brain to hunt for worms and seeds, the cow stays warm to forage for grass.

Clearly, here, plants are more efficient: you can either grow one acre of soybeans and process them into a dozen impossible whoppers; or you can grow a hundred acres of soybeans, feed them to a cow, and then process that cow into a dozen possible whoppers. This was not always possible -- historically, there were nutrients and structures that could not be found other than from animal tissue, because animals are very complex machines, and this was a good source -- but through modern technology, it is now feasible.

The next step after this, in a hypothetical global communism, is to jump over the inefficiencies of plants themselves, and begin producing food directly. We are already able to synthesise basic starch directly from CO2, in a process several-fold more efficient than that carried out by plants. Our technological level is not there yet, but if it arrives there, we would have achieved the smallest possible footprint for our food production, one that wouldn't even neccesarily have to pollute and occupy Earth itself.

Thanks for writing in!

[reasonsforhope]

"In short:

Victorian farmers and volunteers have planted 750,000 trees to restore habitat for a critically endangered bird.

The Regent Honeyeater Project has brought together volunteers from all walks of life since it was launched in the 1990s.

What's next?

An ornithologist says the project is working wonders for the species and other wildlife.

--

John Paul Murphy is not an ecologist, but he knows a thing or two about trees.

The young cattle farmer from Winton in north-east Victoria has helped plant more than 750,000 trees as part of the Regent Honeyeater Project.

"Our involvement as a family goes back to the early 1990s, when the project first kicked off," Mr Murphy said.

The regent honeyeater is a critically endangered bird known for its black-and-bright-yellow colouring.

"Back in the day, millions of these birds would darken the sky from Adelaide up to Queensland," ornithologist Maggie Watson said.

"They're quite large compared to other honeyeaters, are highly nectar-dependent, and are one of the main pollinators of eucalypt trees."

Dr Watson, based in Burrumbuttock, New South Wales, said habitat fragmentation was a major reason the bird was threatened.

"When people started clearing farmland as part of colonisation in the 1800s, they removed all the productive, nectar-producing trees," she said.

"So that essentially wiped out the regent honeyeater's main food-base."

'Great for all wildlife'

Benalla cattle farmer and Regent Honeyeater Project president Rob Richardson said agriculture had claimed its share of the environment.

"We've destroyed a lot of habitat to create grazing and cropping land to the point where there are less than 500 wild regent honeyeaters left in Australia," he said.

"So now we're trying to restore the balance.

"We propagate all the trees in our plant nursery, and then plant them across the landscape to establish vegetation corridors."

Dr Watson said the project would significantly benefit the regent honeyeater population.

"The birds need to have 'roads' to get to flowering trees like eucalypts, and those roads happen to be other trees — so the more you plant, the better," she said.

"Tackling habitat fragmentation is great for all wildlife."

Huge volunteer effort

Mr Richardson said local volunteers were at the heart of the project.

"Over the last 30 years we've had many farmers donate land to be revegetated and over 40,000 volunteers help plant all the trees," he said.

Mr Murphy said the volunteers came from all walks of life.

"At our planting days, I've met university students, doctors, lawyers, biologists … and many of them come back year after year," he said.

Mr Murphy said it was nice to have a chance to get to know with people he may not otherwise have met.

"Farming can be pretty isolating," he said.

"But when you're planting, learning, and just getting your hands dirty together, the conversations you have are really unique.""

-via ABC News Australia, December 2, 2024