#armstrong clan

[beanthenon-beanary]

Ok. I’m part Scottish. I am from the Armstrong Clan and I love learning about all the little fun facts about my Clan and I want to share with people!

For almost 300 years, from the late 13th century until the early 17th century, the English/Scottish Border region was in turmoil. England and Scotland were often at war during this period.  The border families, including the Armstrongs, were living in the front line of this 'war zone'.  The people who farmed these lands were always at a disadvantage. They were living on the front line of a war that lasted many centuries. Armies from England marched through with regular mayhem, killing livestock and taking what they wanted on their way to battles further north. If that wasn’t bad enough other Scottish clans marching south would often do the same. Of all the clans who lived in and defended the lands that bordered Scotland, few were as indomitable or just plain scary as Clan Armstrong.

Their reputation for ferocity grew over the centuries, due in large part to the constant need to defend their territory – practise makes perfect. Clan Armstrong came to be of great importance to the Royal House of Stuart, as Scotland didn’t have a regular standing army, and often relied on the border clans for military aid. The Armstrongs, it was said in 1528, could muster 3000 armed horsemen to the field at very short notice.

This is just some of the information I have gathered. More articles talk about stealing and our history and importance to the Royal House of Stuart. Give this a like and consider following. Tell me in the comments if you want to know more!

We’ve got here the Armstrong Sword on the Stone the Tartan and our crest and motto. I’ll go over these more in a second part if y’all like!

[werewolfetone]

I literally cannot take anything lance armstrong says about trans people ever seriously for obvious reasons but also because there's a museum somewhat near my house in the scottish borders which is a museum to clan armstrong, who were famous border reivers, i.e. people who would go across the scottish-english border and dismember people for their cattle and whatnot + at this museum they have portraits of all of these famous armstrongs, most of whom spent their entire lives turning half the population of cumbria into mincemeat, up in a hall, from which only 1 person's portrait has been removed for poor conduct that shamed the family. can u guess whose

[clancarruthers]

THE STORY OF CAREY'S COWS - CLAN CARRUTHERS CCIS

THE STORY OF CAREY’S COWS   Sir Richard Carey, the Warden of the English West March, after many abortive attempts to subdue the Armstrongs, decided on a determined plan to rid Liddesdale, once and for all, of the reiving activities of this tiresome clan. He entered Liddesdale with a strong force, and, as expected. the reivers withdrew, with their families and belongings into Tarras Moss, a vast,…

[boinkingbattlemechs]

Shadow Hawk

A multirole BattleMech developed in 2550 during the Golden Age, the Shadow Hawk is a powerful fusion of maneuverability and firepower. With a mix of long-range and short-range weapons, good maneuverability thanks to jump jets, and excellent endurance, the Shadow Hawk has long been regarded as one of the best 'Mechs in its weight class. The Shadow Hawk is equally adept whether commanding a reconnaissance company or serving as a spotter for heavy and assault lances.

Lang Industries had technically introduced the Shadow Hawk many years prior to 2550, but this version of the 'Mech suffered from a debilitating fault in its armor plating. The line was recalled and a major overhaul was accomplished in 2550 without any difficulties which solved the issue for most, but not all, Shadow Hawk models; this resumption of production therefore is regarded by many historians as the true debut of the design. For the next few centuries Lang continued to produce the Shadow Hawk for the Star League and the Great Houses until their factory was destroyed with the start of the Succession Wars. Afterwards, Earthwerks Incorporated remained the only manufacturer within the Inner Sphere to continue producing Shadow Hawks from their factory on Calloway VI, while in the Periphery Majesty Metals and Manufacturing on Dunianshire built these 'Mechs for the Magistracy of Canopus and other prospective buyers. As many of the secrets of lostech were rediscovered, Earthwerks was able to create an updated variant of the Shadow Hawk, the SHD-5M, in time for the Clan Invasion.

Starting in the summer of 3066, Vicore Industries began promoting their "Project Phoenix" to various weapons manufacturers across the Inner Sphere, promising improved versions of venerable designs like the Shadow Hawk. Earthwerks, Kallon Industries, and ComStar all expressed interest in redesigning the Shadow Hawk, however the latter two lacked appropriate facilities to build the 'Mech and so, at the suggestion of the Vicore group, contracted Odin Manufacturing on Orestes to build the components while Kallon finished the process at its factories on Nanking and Talon. The Capellan Confederation later acquired the rights to build Earthwerks' SHD-7M Shadow Hawk variant shortly before the Jihad, which they then sublicensed to Vandenberg Mechanized Industries to produce.

The Shadow Hawk carries a varied, but effective mix of weapons. Primary among them is the 80mm Armstrong J11 AC/5 mounted in the left torso along with one ton of ammo. This weapon, as well as the Holly LRM-5 launcher with one ton of reloads in the right torso, provide the Shadow Hawk with good long-range striking capabilities. When the Shadow Hawk closes to shorter ranges it can bring to bear its Holly SRM-2 launcher mounted in the head and its right-arm Martell medium laser which can generally finish off most 'Mechs of its own weight class or smaller that might have survived the mixed autocannon and LRM fire. One ton of ammunition for the SRM-2 is kept in the Shadow Hawk's center torso while 12 single heat sinks provide decent cooling. For hand-to-hand combat the Shadow Hawk features a pair of Lang manipulative hands, regarded as among the strongest models ever built prior to the fall of the Star League. The ability to grasp and carry objects greatly assists in its ability to take part in raiding missions.

While nine and a half tons of armor provide excellent protection, early models of the Shadow Hawk suffered from defective armor pressure plates, especially in the legs. When struck, these plates were liable to sever the myomer bundles which governed movement, rendering the 'Mech immobile. Although the mass recall of 2550 largely solved this issue, a small number of Shadow Hawks were not fixed and continued to see service in battle; on occasion this defect led to the loss of entire battles.

Three jump jets split between the center, left, and right rear torsos gives the Shadow Hawk an adequate jumping distance of 90 meters; while limited in the distance traveled, it gives the 'Mech an edge when engaged in close combat and supplements its cruising speed of 54 km/h. Perhaps the most valued component on the Shadow Hawk, as far as its pilots are concerned, is the Sparrow 300J life support system, which among the most advanced ever devised. The Sparrow can keep a pilot comfortable up to 30% longer than similar systems in other 'Mechs, and is especially important on extended missions where a more relaxed pilot is a better pilot.

(sorry, the Tumblr queue screwed up! It was supposed to post this poll last night, but decided to say that the Carrion Crow poll was posted yesterday, and ate this poll in the process. Anyway, here's some famous thing called a Shadow Hawk, I guess? /s /j)

[artsy-hobbitses]

Sergio ‘Sideswipe’ Saverio and Stella ‘Strongarm’ Armstrong fanbabies because that’s where we are fellas, and we’re getting some gremlin children today ✨👌🏼

Note that ‘Solitaire’ as in diamond/jewel, not solitude! Also because the idea that they’re both ‘Sols’ alluding to completely different things is a silly little thing I absolutely had to include (to go with the concept of non-identical twins who adore each other regardless of the fact that they are nothing alike) 

Solaris, the prim one in ribbons and Elsa braids and sweet little Mary Janes is actually the punchier of the two because she absolutely lives by Aristocat Marie’s “Ladies don’t start fights but they can finish them” (MORTAL KOMBAT THEME INTENSIFIES) and combines it with Uncle Blades’ “Why pick one fight when you can pick them all??”

Selestine is the streetwise strategist!  She’s also repping her mom’s clan Armstrong tartan. 

[cornertheculprit]

one thing i rarely ever see mentioned is maya's disillusionment with the fey clan over the course of trials and tribulations as well as her own struggles with the idea of becoming the master. it's first mentioned near the middle of the stolen turnabout, where phoenix mentions maya hasn't been back to kurain village in a "long time" (which is the same way he refers to the last time he saw mia, implying that maya hasn't been back to the village since before 2-4):

Phoenix: (Now that I think about it... Maya hasn't been back to Kurain Village in a long time...)

and then, at the end of the stolen turnabout, mia says this:

Mia: I'm just joking, Phoenix. Don't take everything so seriously. But on the other hand, Maya... She seems kind of lost these days.

Phoenix: You mean about becoming the Master of the Kurain Channeling School?

Mia: Becoming the Master... means saying goodbye to our mother.

and it becomes even more apparent in bits and pieces throughout recipe for turnabout, though it isn't obvious at first because it's the type of dialogue you only get when you present profiles and other things:

Maya: Well, I'm kind of taking a break... I'm having a bit of trouble right now, you know?

Phoenix: (Last year's incident must still be on her mind... I haven't seen Maya train at all since that time. I think Mia said it's because Maya's at a loss these days...)

[...]

Armstrong: You 'ave la perfect face for a waitress, you know.

Maya: Um, thanks. I guess if things don't work out someday, then maybe I'll be back.

Phoenix: (What things? Is she talking about her being a spirit medium...?)

and then it culminates near the end of bridge to the turnabout, where she outright states that she wants nothing more to do with they fey clan:

Godot: ...Witness, please tell us your name and profession.

Maya: Maya Fey. My profession is... Umm... I'm the assistant manager at Wright & Co. Law Offices.

Phoenix: (Maya...)

Judge: According to the magazine I have here... ...you're a spirit medium of the Kurain Channeling Technique...

Maya: ... I... I'm frightened. The Fey clan... I don't want any more to do with it.

Phoenix: (Oh, Maya... The pain the Fey bloodline causes must be unbearable...)

and it's something that makes me question her decision to keep training to be the master, because the end of bridge to the turnabout outright states that the reason maya is staying so chipper and happy is because she's trying to be strong for pearl. which is understandable! and at the end, all phoenix and maya are trying to do is cheer pearl up, which ultimately leads to this:

Phoenix: This is a day to remember. A day when a lot of things were finally put to rest. I think we should celebrate what we've overcome today.

Pearl: B-But... I-I still can't...

Bikini: ...Oh, go on, sweetie. You can come back for training anytime.

Pearl: Um... OK!

Maya: Alright! I'm going to make a brand new start, too! Sister Bikini! I'll be back for more training! I promise!

Bikini: I know, and I won't go easy on you just because you're the future Master. I'll make sure to prepare reservations for three for when you come back! Wa ha ha ho ho ho hee hee hee!

Maya: Alright! We're going to have a great feast today, Pearly. You know why? Because training is a battle of endurance!

Pearl: OK, Mystic Maya! I... I'll eat lots and lots of food tonight!

maya puts on a determined face and says that she's going to make a "brand new start" and then proceeds to say that she's going back into training and that pearl should too—she's still in the process of actively attempting to coax pearl out of her sad shell and help put a smile back on her face after everything that's happened. more than that, the entire endgame of morgan's plan was to put pearl in the master's seat instead of maya even if it would lead to pearl being miserable, and god knows all maya wants is for pearl to be happy. so it makes me think that maya, being the self-sacrificing person she is, really only wants to become the master so that pearl won't have to. there are other factors of course (the burden of misty and mia's legacies, for one) but i think pearl is her main motivation. she wants her little cousin to smile again and if that means smiling herself and taking on the burden of the master then so be it. even if she wants nothing more to do with the fey clan anymore. someone's gotta do it and it might as well be her.

[scotianostra]

On November 5th 1667 The borders custom of paying blackmail to avoid kidnapping was outlawed; the local population was urged to hound such criminals from the community.

The term blackmail itself was originated in the Scottish Borders meaning payments rendered in exchange for protection from thieves and marauders.

In the 16th century, blackmail was a tribute paid by farmers along the border of Scotland and England to freebooters for protection from their raids. The freebooters are often identified as the Border reivers, descended from both Scottish and English families in the region. They resorted to pillage and plunder, apparently, due to the disruptions and devastations wreaked by the ongoing war between the two peoples in the late Middle Ages. The Oxford English Dictionary first dates the term to the 1530s in Robert Pitcairn’s Ancient Criminal Trials in Scotland.

The "mail" part of blackmail derives from Middle English male meaning "rent or tribute". This tribute was paid in goods or labour. Alternatively, it may be derived from two Scottish Gaelic words blathaich - to protect; and mal - tribute or payment.

Some etymologists point to black rent and white rent. Black rent, so the theory goes, could be paid in work, goods, livestock, or produce, the color associated with cattle or the ‘baser’ quality of the forms of payment. White rent, meanwhile, was paid in money, like silver, whose metal was once called “white.” Black rent was an indeed an earlier (1420s) form of blackmail, but the OED enters white rent as a variant of quit-rent, a kind of historical property tax that exempt (quit) renters from other obligations concerning the land under feudal law. Folk etymology probably accounts for the confusion.

Blackmail is said to signify payment in cattle. Whitemail in silver money. [nb elsewhere “greenmail” is payment for land]

More likely, the black in blackmail refers to the “illegal” (black market) or “evil” (black magic) nature of the extortion.

James I first tried to rein in the activities of Border Reivers in the early 1600′s , although his Grandfather, James V had previously hung around 50 Reivers including John Armstrong of Gilnockie in 1530, I think the upsurge of violence during the Bishops Wars and the civil war in general will have seen an upsurge in their activities for a time.

Interestingly I can only find one source for the outlawing of blackmailing, but the Reivers in general started to become a spent force following the Restoration and long-running lawlessness by Moss troopers, who were basically the Reivers of the late 17th century,. In 1662 the Moss Troopers Act had started the clamp down of the lawlessness on the English side of the border. A series of acts during the next century covered the whole country, the original acts stated that “the notorious thieves and spoil-takers in Northumberland or Cumberland were to be transported to America, there to remaine and not to returne"

Border Clans involved included Armstrongs, Irvings, Bells, Grahams, Beatties, Littles, Maxwells, Elliott's, Crosers, Nixons and Hendersons, not all were outlaws, I am generalising a wee bit.

[fullmetal-scar-simping]

the fic is just a bunch of ideas loosely sewn together for now and I'm not even sure if I'd have time to write it, but here's the two main ideas I'm battling with:

1. Fmab setting, kind of a fix it fic; reader is part of a family that's been serving the Armstrongs for generations (similar deal to Lan Fan and Fu with the Yao clan) and is sent to Ishval post Promised Day as a spy since things are getting messier and messier there. Turns out Scar and a whole Ishvalan faction are actively fighting for Independence (got very inspired by reading that one post of yours a few days ago). Possible tags include but are not limited to: enemies AND lovers, extremely slow burn, battles of wits to figure out who is trustworthy and who isn't, unbearable angst, bittersweet to "happy"? ending depending on Reader's development during the story to get the propaganda stick out their ass.

2. Once again a broho setting cause it's the one I'm most familiar with (I'm in the midst of rewatching 03); but we have an artist reader who's troubled past stops them from painting again. They start travelling in hopes of finding inspiration but get into a horrendous accident where they risk losing their arms — and the ability to paint ever again. They're rescued by the inhabitants of a nearby village where everyone keeps praising their miraculous doctor; that they'll be fine, they'll paint again for sure. Delirious from blood loss and the sheer fear of losing the one thing that makes them *them*, reader barely registers the doctor asking over and over again if they're sure they want to do this, if they're ready to pay the price— they accept, they say yes.

They get their arms back, they can still paint.

Here I'm not sure abt the details that'll lead to it except that they meet Scar at some point and form a bond, quite a profound one at that. The type of bond that makes them paint again; that brings vibrant reds in all things. And then they learn the truth of how they got their arms back, of the philosopher stone's nature... Potential tags: so much angst but what is a fma fanfic without it

... somebody sedate me

Ooooh, I'm definitely piqued by the first fic idea! Love that the ask/post about Ishvalan Independence inspired this one. An opportunity to see someone flesh it out further would rock, omg. The intrigue over the Armstrongs having their own spy to sus out the Ishval rebuild, yet the spy gets wrapped up in Scar enough to earn the enemies AND lovers tag 👀

The second one, though a bit looser in its conceptualization, sounds juicy and heartrending. I can already see the horror from the revelation of the method that restored the reader's arms and what that does to the both of them. Poor reader insert, and poor Scar.

Now on the one hand I wanna goad you on to write both, because Scar fanworks (especially ones that actually centers him whatsoever) are far and few between. But on the other, that's a lotta work and I'm the last person on Earth to throw expectations of a hefty workload done in a timely manner onto others (I can barely get myself to do anything at a reasonable timeframe lol). Hard enough to find time to do things outside of our daily tasks/jobs/whatever else. Soooooo up to you, anon. I hope one of these ideas has enough of a stranglehold on ya to see it to fruition someday, but no pressure!

No sedatives tho. Only stimulants. For purely recreational and non-self-serving reasons ;)

[sometimesiwritetoo]

Vampire the Masquerading FMA

No one asked but I will deliver.

Roy: Lasombra. Because of their desire for prestige and power, and their willingness to take control from the shadows. Plus the fun of making the fire boi part of the vampire clan with shadow powers. In modern nights Lasombra have been encroaching on the Ventrue's various positions as princes and leaders of their respective cities and Roy is after Bradley's head because he is no different from his valor thirsty brethren. He says it's because he would stop Bradley's tyranny, but that's up to interpretation.

Alphonse and Edward: Both Malks. Not only would they have been turned from Hoheinheim, but the lore of Malks states that they have fantastical insight and yet are cursed with madness with the big theory being that this is due to them going mad after seeing "the truth" which sounds like our bois. They'll be the type to never have a good gauge on what people do/don't know and just say some earth shattering fact like they were making an observation about the weather. Good luck getting them on the topic, however, they're both genius' with the attention spans of goldfish. For such young vampires they are quite powerful, makes you wonder what the deal was with Hoheinheim...

Hawkeye: Toreador. I know everyone who knows this series would think that Roy would've been the Toreador because he's the flirt who is often depicted next to flowers. But jokes on all two of you, Toreador become fascinated with beauty, yes, but type of beauty is up to your interpretation and this woman is /obsessed/ with the beauty of marksmanship. She will lose her shit if her shot is just slightly off center and then go look for targets to redeem herself. This woman wants nothing more than a new scope for Christmas and her home looks like the stuff of a true crimes documentary.

Armstrong: Also Toreador. The whole steorotype of Toreador looking for beauty and being artists is true, but in Armstrong's case it's both roses and pectorals. Don't get his art? No one does, but everyone's too scared to do anything but nod.

Hughes: Hecata. Originally he was gonna be a Nosferatu, but I couldn't do that to our boi. He spends his free time looking into how people died, piecing together their tragic ends from whatever information he can find. He's pretty useful to keep around, though very much not interested in what the living have to offer.

Fuery, Falman, Breda: Thin-bloods. Mostly because the clan has the skill "thin blood alchemy" which is unique to them. It's just magic-lite, but I think it would be funny to give it to them.

Winry: Brujah. Was originally going to give her Toreador, but she seems firey and passionate enough for the clan. Brujah are the rebels and though Winry is a rebel with a cause, and if you harm the disabled she'll harm you. She's also smart and when she's not burning down buildings, or the establishment, she is working on her prosthetics.

Bradley: Ventrue. The Ventrue are widely regarded as the "true leaders" of the Camarilla, a self policing organization of various vampire clans, but they're finding themselves playing on the defense when the Lasombra join. Bradley's been comfortable leading his city for decades and now there's some young upstart breathing down his neck uniting the people he's disenfranchised against him.

[basicsofislam]

ISLAM 101: WOMEN IN ISLAM: Part 1

Women and the Qur’anic Prescriptions

One of the most sensitive and oft-debated issues with regard to Islam concerns the status and role of women in society. Arguably one of the aspects of social life which the emergence of Islam affected most was the status of women, with “the Qur’an hav[ing] more to say about the position of women than any other social question.”

At the time of its revelation in the seventh century, the Qur’an exacted considerable change in Arabian society regarding the question of women and continued to do so in the centuries that followed. The principles outlined in the Qur’an which determine the lives of Muslim women can be outlined in several distinct terms. These include the social, spiritual and economic status of women. In order to discuss the multiple nature of Islam’s reformations to the position of women, an exploration of pre-Islamic Arabian society, especially its sociopolitical, economic and religious landscape, and a comparison to Qur’anic principles are required.

The social milieu that provided the background for the emergence of Islam in Arabia is described by Muslims in one term: Jahiliyya, or The Age of Ignorance.

Armstrong argues that this term was not used to define a historical era but to illustrate the spirit that pervaded this time of “spiritual and moral crisis,” thus referring “to a state of mind that caused violence and terror in seventh-century Arabia.” Women were not exempt from this violence and social crisis: infanticide, the burying alive of baby girls, was rife; the marriage was not sanctioned; women did not have the right of inheritance and bequest; they were not treated fairly during divorce, and women were not afforded full control of their wealth. It is in placing the Qur’an and its principles against the backdrop of such a setting that the reformist spirit of Islam, which restores the true human character, can be seen.

One of the most important principles detailed in the Qur’an which regulates the lives of Muslim women is the spiritual status assigned to women. Viewed by Muslims as the literal word of God, the Qur’an is taken to be the means through which God makes Himself known and describes His laws.

When Islam emerged in tribal Arabia, religion reflected the tribal nature of society and its social structure. Polytheism and idolatry were dominant, with the Ka‘ba, the shrine revered since the time of Abraham, housing 360 idols. Families banded together to form clans and clans came together to form tribes; tribal allegiance was the most important factor governing an individual’s position in society.

One of the points discussed with reference to women in pre-Islamic society is the level of their participation in religious rites and traditions. Some have argued that, while being seen as improving the rights of women, the advent of Islam, in fact, restricted them.

However, in his discussion of the feminine in Islamic mysticism, Elias locates the chief reason for women’s involvement in soothsaying, Blackmagic and such occupations, as being women’s exclusion from religion. Islam’s emergence drastically altered the spiritual landscape of Arabia for women. One of the most important principles outlined in the Qur’an is the notion of religious, moral and spiritual, obligations being incumbent upon all individuals, regardless of sex. 

The Qur’an states, for example: “Those who submit to God and accept the true Faith; who are devout, sincere, patient, humble charitable, and chaste; who fast and are ever mindful of God-on these, both men and women, God will bestow forgiveness and a rich recompense.” 

The Qur’an clearly rejects any such notion of the “inherent” evil of woman. It explicitly demands respect for her “inherent” good as potential child-bearer (and primary nurturer). It places her on absolute par with men in terms of the spiritual potential (to know and serve Allah) and the potential to attain Paradise, provided she and he strive to realize such potential.

The Qur’anic principle of spiritual and moral obligation has meant that women, from the very early days of Islam, have played an essential role, not just in practicing the faith and engaging in Islamic mysticism, but also in writing the official history of Islam and compiling foundational works establishing the standards of religious and social practice for Islamic society.

Another essential principle pertaining to women which is woven through the fabric of the Qur’an is that of marriage. The Qur’an defines marriage as a contract between man and woman, with both assuming equal, though not identical, places. It sees the institution and the sexual relations between husband and wife not as shameful, but as commendable:

By another sign, He created for you spouses from among yourselves, that you might live in peace with them, and planted love and kindness in your hearts.

The status of women and the family in Islamic society was thus the product chiefly of Qur’anic prescriptions, which endure in affecting the lives of Muslim women.

[felixcloud6288]

Fullmetal Alchemist Chapter 80

Thinking back, Jelso and Zanpano only just got involved in all this and their first interaction with a Homunculus was Envy in it's super form.

And speaking of, Envy stays defiant despite everything. It made one last attempt to hijack Yoki's body only for that to not work. And even when kept in a jar, it still insults everyone around it. It called Ed a squirt despite being way smaller than him now.

There's a little straw in the jar cork so Envy can get air.

Envy's defiant antics are more funny because of what it looks like right now. If they could have taken it hostage while it was in its human form, Envy's snobbish refusal to give information wouldn't look so silly.

It's easy to forget how dangerous, manipulative, and sadistic Envy actually is when it's a cute little slug.

Marcoh said he threw out his hip fighting Envy and now he's using a walking stick.

At the crossroad, May takes Envy eastward to head to Youswell.

If we orient ourselves a little, we can determine the party was traveling southward. Later in the chapter, the party, minus Scar and Marcoh, are in Reole.

But here's the thing: Reole is north of Youswell. So Al's team would likely need to take the same road May just went down to head for Youswell.

Everyone, except Scar, was blushing at May tearfully grabbing Al as she said goodbye.

Winry decides to be nosy about Al's love life and then Al gets back at her about it later.

Going forward, time is highly convoluted. We were likely still in the Northern parts of Amestris but since the series has been transitioning to winter, it's always possible it's starting to snow further south of Briggs.

I can't really pinpoint how long May traveled to get to Youswell nor how long it took Al's party to reach Reole. May seems to have taken a train to reach Youswell. Meanwhile, Al probably can't risk riding a train because he would be too conspicuous and Winry is in hiding so she can't be used as a hostage. Furthermore, Reole doesn't have a direct train line so they'd have to travel on foot for part of it.

Several days to several weeks might have passed during this chapter depending on how long it took everyone to reach where they got to.

It seems like Youswell is becoming a somewhat more touristy area. Or at least it's economy has grown beyond just coal.

May was so quick to run back to Central with a slight nudge from Envy. I wander if there's anything of value to May back home. She's a princess of Xing, but she's the princess from the weakest clan in Xing and Xiao Mei is her only friend. She cares about her clan, but it's more like an obligatory care.

But in Amestris, she has made friends and met people she cares for on a personal level.

Envy knows how to manipulate people. It understands May is conflicted over having to choose to help the people she cares about and the people she's obligated to help. And Envy brought up a "solution" that can do both.

The small talk between Hawkeye and Wrath has such a bombshell to me.

I am absolutely certain Wrath is angry that his entire life has been decided for him. He even mentions how his son, position, subordinates, and power were all decided and given to him. Nothing he has is truly his own.

So when he saw his family in chapter 32, I think he was genuinely smiling when he saw them because his wife is truly his. And he earned the love she has for him.

Olivier Mira Armstrong and Alex Louis Armstrong are having a violent sibling squabble.

Alex is aware of the national transmutation circle, so someone told him about it. My bet is it was Olivier herself. Falman informed the rest of the Mustang squad, but he doesn't have any reason to consider Alex as someone to inform. Meanwhile, Olivier has a messenger within Central loyal to her family. Despite everything, I'm certain she trusts Alex as an ally when the time comes.

The place Major General Armstrong is taken to is somewhere in that circular passage under the research labs.

I know they're all evil, but they really should do something about all these pipes and cables. This is a humongous tripping hazard.

back

[halfbakedspuds]

Happy WBW for this 😐! Where in your world is the equivalent to the American Midwest? Just the middle of bumfuck nowhere, with nothing going on. Everyone living there is kinda sad about it.

Thanks for the WBW ask!

(Side-note: as a non-American, hearing any part of the US described as "Bumfuck nowhere and everyone there is kinda sad about it" is really funny for some reason)

In Children of the Stars, I'd say it's probably any of the human Ceasefire territories, but specifically anywhere in the Sol system excluding Mars, Titan, and Callisto, which I know isn't technically the middle of nowhere (In fact, the ceasefire territories have one of the densest webs of FTL corridors in the Galaxy and the oldest in the Galactic fromtier) but it may as well be.

Venus is still being terraformed so there's a big ol' under construction sign there. Earth just feels like one big cultural museum and an ironic reminder that world peace came at the cost of a perpetual galactic civil war. Luna has Megacity Armstrong and a joint Imperial-Unionist boot camp, but that's about it. Most of the moons around the gas giants either house workers, the factories they work in, or the bored Solar Guard soldiers who try to look busy so that they don't get transferred to Callisto, or their purpose is to be the seat of government for those moons.

Like, the only real outliers to this are Callisto, where early gangs and citizen militias sort of merged together into a clan based warrior culture that even the Empire is too scared to try and police; Titan, where the Crimson Dawn uprising happened (Think Nazi's, then replace racism with a violent ideology of human supremacy and that's more or less what happened there) and most xeno tourists to Sol are still warned to stay away from over 50 years later; and Mars, which has become a symbol of freedom of expression, artistry, philosophy and intellectual works. Mars is also- by technicality, at least- not a human world, despite literally neighbouring our capital planet. It instead acts as an autonomously governed administrative capital for the entire Frontier Coalition, based out of the city of New Geneva.

Tl:Dr, the Heart of human space is the most dishearteningly boring place in the Galaxy.

[clancarruthers]

RAID ON HOLLOWS TOWER – PAINTING   Raid on Hollows Tower, painting by Pete Armstrong   Hollows Tower stands on the right bank of the river Esk two miles north of Canonbie. A house was built at Hollows about 1518 by an Armstrong and burnt by Lord Dacre in 1528. The present building seems to be of late 16th century date with some later work above the wall-head. The painting illustrates a late…

[ihni]

13 books meme

Was tagged by @missroserose (thanks!) and BOY am I bad at reading books these days, so this kinda made me feel bad. (i'm not counting fanfics in this, even though I have several of those printed in book form)

1) The Last book I read:

"Sovande jättar", "Gudarna vaknar" and "Bara människa" (it's a triology) by Silvain Neuvel. (in English: "Sleeping Giants", Waking Gods" and "Only Human")

2) A book I recommend:

"The flat share" by Beth O'Leary for some light reading and feelgood feels. It's so cute!

3) A book that I couldn’t put down:

"The Martian" by Andy Weir. I literally got late back to work from my lunch break because I Had To Finish It.

4) A book I’ve read twice (or more):

I mean, lots of them. If I have a favorite, I will return to it like I would an old friend. To mention a few, "Grottbjörnens folk" by Jean M. Auel (English: "Clan of the cave bear") and the follow-up, "Hästarnas dal" (English: "Valley of the horses", I think) because I'm a sucker for someone just ... surviving and thriving. "Dimestore magic" and "Bitten" by Kelley Armstrong. Trilogin om Frihetskrigen (The Freedom War Triology?) by Niklas Krog. "Vingmästarens dotter" by Bertil Mårtensson. And of couse "Good Omens" by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett.

5) A book on my TBR:

"Runaway Max" by Brenna Yovanoff. One of these days, I'll get to it ... at least the Billy scenes, lol

6) A book I’ve put down:

"Call Me by Your Name" by André Aciman. I didn't actually put it down because I was determined to finish it, but it was a struggle. I'm sure it is very good, but for someone who isn't into a) romance or b) sex, there just wasn't that much else for me to latch onto in that book. Not much ... plot.

7) A book on my wish list:

Gregory Crewdson, "Eveningside 2012-2022", but I've been hesitant to buy it so far because I can't rationalize spending that much on a book. But listen, he is a fantastic photographer and I've loved his work ever since I first saw a documentary about him on TV, ages ago.

8) A favorite book from childhood:

"Skattsökarna" by E. Nesbit (in English: "The Story of the Treasure Seekers"). Man I did NOT know what all those currency meant when I was a kid but it seemed FANTASTIC to have that many friends and adventures. <3

9) A book you would give to a friend:

"I'm with stupid" by Gene Weingarten and Gina Barreca. It was a fun and eye-opening book, lol (that is actually due for a re-read soon).

10) A book of Poetry or Lyrics you own:

"Complete poems" by Dorothy Parker. I have read the whole thing and I love her. I love Dorothy's poetry. So witty, so RHYMING.

11) A nonfiction book you own:

"Saxat ur Starlet" by Kristina Öhman. It has me ROLLING laughing. Starlet was a comic that I read a lot when I was a kid, and this book has taken random images from those comics and added commentary, and it is HIL-AR-IOUS.

12) What are you currently reading:

Nothing that ain't fanfics, baby.

13) What are you planning on reading next?

Book-wise? I don't know.

Bonus Round Shelfie?

Huh?

Tagging: @mikajupiterjonesingtimcurryfeet @callieb @dragonflylady77 @cherrydreamer @jaune-chat and whoever wants to do it :)

[artsy-hobbitses]

Morning! Scot here, I noticed that your hound wears a tartan in that last picture of him you posted. I was wondering which clan you were writing him as part of? The particular pattern he's wearing reminds me of the Blackwatch tartan that's commonly worn by the military. Myself, I'm a main-branch Grant (a midsize highlander clan) through my mother. It's great to see characters wearing tartan it brings me so much joy! Thank you!

Good morning and hello!

Hale Donovan/Hound is a member of Clan Davidson on his mum’s side (I’m aware the blue should be darker, sorry!).

Other Scots at some point utilising their clan tartan include Graeme Lochead/Grimlock (Clan Ramsay) and Stella Armstrong/Strongarm (Clan Armstrong).

As of yet undecided on Finella/Firestar, but I’m totally onboard with making her a member of Clan Grant just for you if you’re cool with it!

(Also I’m so glad you love them��my brain cannot deal with cut/paste designs that don’t flow with the fabric so I always end up detailing all tartan by hand 😂)

[nightsidewrestling]

D.U.D.E Bios: Tegwen Pritchard

The Cyhyraeth Duchess of C.R.C Tegwen Pritchard (2020)

The third eldest daughter of Maeve, and granddaughter of Naoise, Tegwen. An Irish-Catholic woman living in Wales and an unorthodox and tough young lady. Tegwen is one of Kirby's first cousins once removed.

"Family can be kin or those kind enough to choose you."

Name

Full Legal Name: Tegwen Sprita Valora Undine Pritchard

First Name: Tegwen

Meaning: Derived from the Welsh elements 'Teg' 'Beautiful, Pretty' and 'Gwen' 'White, Blessed'.

Pronunciation: teg-WEN

Origin: Welsh

Middle Name(s): Sprita, Valora, Undine

Meaning(s): Sprita: Means 'Witty, Lively' in Esperanto, ultimately from Latin 'Spiritus' 'Breath, Energy'. Valora: Means 'Valuable' in Esperanto. Undine: Derived from Latin 'Unda' meaning 'Wave'.

Pronunciation(s): SPREE-ta. va-LO-ra. un-DEEN

Origin(s): Esperanto. Esperanto. Literature.

Surname: Pritchard

Meaning: From Welsh 'Ap Richard' meaning 'Son of Richard'

Pronunciation: PRIT-chard

Origin: Welsh

Alias: Cyhyraeth Duchess, Tegwen Pritchard

Reason: This is Tegwen's ring name

Nicknames: None

Titles: Miss

Characteristics

Age: 18

Gender: Female. She/Her Pronouns

Race: Human

Nationality: Welsh

Ethnicity: White

Birth Date: February 18th 2002

Symbols: Banshees, Cyhyraeths, Ghosts, Crowns

Sexuality: Bisexual

Religion: Irish-Catholic

Native Language: Welsh

Spoken Languages: Welsh, Irish, Scottish (Scots Gaelic), English

Relationship Status: Dating

Astrological Sign: Aquarius

Theme Song: ;Sunshine Highway; - Dropkick Murphys (2020-)

Voice Actor: Abi Roberts

Geographical Characteristics

Birthplace: Llanfaethlu, Anglesey, Wales

Current Location: Llanfaethlu, Anglesey, Wales

Hometown: Llanfaethlu, Anglesey, Wales

Appearance

Height: 5'6" / 167 cm

Weight: 136 lbs / 61 kg

Eye Colour: Blue

Hair Colour: Brown

Hair Dye: None

Body Hair: N/A

Facial Hair: N/A

Tattoos: (As of Jan 2020) 0

Piercings: Ear Lobe (Triple, Both), Eyebrow (Double, Both), Tragus (Both), Nasallang, Cyber Bites

Scars: None

Health and Fitness

Allergies: None

Alcoholic, Smoker, Drug User: Smoker, Social Drinker

Illnesses/Disorders: None Diagnosed

Medications: None

Any Specific Diet: None

Relationships

Allies: (As of Jan 2020) The Rhydderch Clan

Enemies: (As of Jan 2020) None

Friends: Paulette Nye, Zella Nye, Rosaura Marino, Emperatriz Romero-Marino, Venetia Winter, Barbara Di Napoli, Wanda Llewellyn, Gardenia Rhydderch, Tabitha Griffiths, Tacey Rhydderch, Calanthe Mulrennan, Velvet Rhydderch, Tallulah Rhydderch, Eira MacThaoig, Seren Mathieson, Owena Pritchard, Ulyssa Pritchard

Colleagues: The C.R.C Locker Rooms / Too Many To List

Rivals: None

Closest Confidant: Urban Armstrong

Mentor: Maeve Pritchard

Significant Other: Urban Armstrong (19, Boyfriend)

Previous Partners: None of Note

Parents: Conall Pritchard (51, Father), Maeve Pritchard (50, Mother, Née Rhydderch)

Parents-In-Law: None

Siblings: Conan Pritchard (30, Brother), Eira MacThaoig (27, Sister, Née Pritchard), Seren Mathieson (24, Sister, Née Pritchard), Heddwyn Pritchard (21, Brother), Neil Pritchard (15, Brother), Owena Pritchard (12, Sister), Glyn Pritchard (9, Brother), Joshua Pritchard (6, Brother), Ulyssa Pritchard (3, Sister)

Siblings-In-Law: Brighid Pritchard (31, Conan's Wife), Cillian MacThaoig (28, Eira’s Husband), Conn Mathieson (25, Seren’s Husband), Eithne Pritchard (22, Heddwyn’s Wife, Née McCulloch)

Nieces & Nephews: Aonghus Pritchard (10, Nephew), Caoilfhionn Pritchard (7, Niece), Clodagh Pritchard (4, Niece), Ardghal Pritchard (1, Nephew), Brendan MacThaoig (7, Nephew), Damhnait MacThaoig (4, Niece), Deirbhile MacThaoig (1, Niece), Brian Mathieson (4, Nephew), Cairbre Mathieson (1, Nephew), Fiadh Pritchard (1, Niece)

Children: None

Children-In-Law: None

Grandkids: None

Great Grandkids: None

Wrestling

Billed From: Anglesey, Wales

Trainer: The C.R.C Wrestling School, Talulla Rhydderch, Maeve Pritchard

Managers: Urban Armstrong

Wrestlers Managed: Urban Armstrong

Debut: 2020

Debut Match: Tegwen Pritchard VS Maeve Pritchard. Tegwen won via pinfall

Retired: N/A

Retirement Match: N/A

Wrestling Style: Brawler / Hardcore

Stables: The Rhydderch Clan (2020-)

Teams: No Team Names

Regular Moves: Belly-To-Back Suplex, Bulldog, Figure-Four Leglock, Inverted Atomic Drop, Low Blow, Multiple Jabs, Poking / Raking Opponent’s Eyes, Running High Knee Strike, Big Boot, Atomic Drop, Backbreaker Rack, Diving Overhead Chop, High Knee, One-Armed Body Slam, Piledriver, Running Big Boot, Running Leg Drop, Vertical Suplex Powerslam

Finishers: Sleeper Hold, Jumping Knee Drop, Top Rope Jumping Knee Drop

Refers To Fans As: The Fans, The Family

Extras

Backstory: Tegwen Pritchard of the C.R.C (Welsh Wrestling League / Cynghrair Reslo Cymru) owning Rhydderch family. When Maeve dies Tegwen will have a 1/560th ownership of the promotion. Tegwen is a 'Cyhyraeth Style’ (Brawler/Hardcore) trainer. She’s mostly Welsh.

Trivia: Nothing of Note