#great lion rampant

[upupandbeyond]

[vulpgulps]

Lion rampants are great for keeping your fat butt off the ground! Try them out!

[creations-by-chaosfay]

Have you heard of the term "patterns mills"? These are shopfronts that quickly produce a pattern without any sort of testing or vetting, and then put it on the market with an AI-generated or stolen image for a very tempting price. Patterns produced this way are rampant in the cross-stitching world. However, I've recently noticed an uptick in these types of storefronts in the quilting and foundation paper piecing world. Since I'm well versed in FPP patterns, I would like to describe what an AI-generated quilt pattern looks like as well as provide other suspicious giveaways. AI will only get better, so while these mistakes are dead giveaways now, they might be fixed in the future. FPP patterns seem to be easier to replicate in AI than traditionally pieced patterns, which is why I will focus on FPP in this blogpost. However, you can apply the same clues to any sort of craft pattern (or really anything) you can buy online. Important: AI-generated images are not prohibited on Etsy. However, within their policies they state that you must disclose if you used AI within your listing, and these shops do not have that disclosure.

Below is a listing for a wolf face FPP pattern. When you first look at it, does anything seem suspicious?

First, I would like to draw your attention to the scissors in the bottom left of the photo. These scissors are physically impossible to use and are literally melting into the yellow cutting mat. The lines of this cutting mat are unresolved, as are the lines on the green cutting mat in the bottom right corner. These are your first giveaways. However, not all images have background sewing items that look a little funny. Let's take a look at the actual "completed quilt."

The first thing I notice is that the only background seam line (from this apparently foundation paper pieced quilt) is the one in the top left corner. The seam is merely hinted at and does not go all the way to the edge. Additionally, I notice that the eye is too round. One could argue that the cover photo is merely an enhanced version of the completed quilt, but there are no completed quilt photos in the listing. Another clue for identifying AI generated quilt images is that there are a ton of colors/prints used. The prints in this image seem nebulous and the prints around the eye whiskers (?) lose a lot of fidelity. The individual fabrics themselves do not have consistency.

In the image above, the things I notice are that there are curved seams within the gray and white colors. A typical FPP pattern would not have curved piecing interspersed between regular straight seam piecing. Also, piecing lines that are useless, especially visible in the bluish-gray piece on the left. The amount of piecing within that patch does not make sense. Below you will see another listing from a different Etsy seller.

From afar, it looks really good. Plus, the seller has great reviews! And it's a Bestseller! But let us take a closer look…

The first thing that sticks out to me is how the whiskers of the lion are resolved. You can see where they fade into the muzzle of the lion without a realistic piecing line. Some of the patches are straight up "smeary" and wrinkly, a telltale sign of AI. The program does not know how to accurately render the design so it creates an approximation. These are things that are hard to see unless you zoom in. Below is a listing for a legitimate lion FPP pattern from designer Pride and Joy Quilting so you can see the difference. It is clear that the first image is an actual completed quilt top.

Beyond the AI-generated cover quilts, I'd also like to cover other signs of a pattern generated from a pattern mill.

For the lion pattern, the cost is only $8.63. This is very cheap for what is supposed to be a full sized quilt pattern with a multitude of templates.

Both of these sellers have very generic names. While not an immediate cause for concern, I recommend being skeptical.

There are no actual completed quilt images within the listing.

Both of them are considered "Bestsellers" on Etsy, but the shop with the wolf pattern only has 10 reviews. It makes me wonder about the disparity between "buyers" and reviewers.

The 5 star reviews for the lion pattern are extremely generic and talk only about "how much their friend Lisa will enjoy the pattern" or "how easy it was to download." These are not helpful for understanding the quality of the actual product. The 1 star reviews are way more descriptive about the issues the pattern has. This makes me wonder about fake reviews.

Both of these patterns include a full layout of the FPP diagram within the listing. I personally would never do this and I don't know many designers who would.

The lion pattern says this within its description: "Before making a purchase, we'd like to inform you about some important aspects. The product stands out for its template, design, and print quality, serving as a valuable tool for sewing projects. The instructions include two techniques: direct fabric marking (with visible stitches) and invisible stitches. Both are general guidelines and not step-by-step instructions. You can choose these techniques or any other that you consider suitable based on your experience and preference. There are no refunds for the digital file. We appreciate your understanding and are available for any questions." This demonstrates to me that the pictures are not accurate because they are clearly attempting to depict FPP and are hoping that you won't read the description until it is too late.

Why is every lowercase i in the wolf pattern missing its dot? Like, why? I find that strange and off putting.

So, how do you avoid accidentally purchasing a pattern like this?

The first step is gaining experience in recognizing listings that seem a bit fishy. Use the bullet points listed above to see what kind of feeling you get when looking over a listing. I also recommend finding out more about the designer from their website or from their social media. Not all legitimate designers have these necessarily, but it's a great place to start. Try messaging the shop owner on Etsy. Does it sound like they know what they are even talking about? You'll then build a good list of designers and shops you trust. A big and worrisome thing to remember is that AI will only get better and produce better looking images. This will make it harder to identify pattern mills by the image alone. However, the clues that I've listed will help if you put them all together and come to a conclusion. I suggest using them for all your online shopping. I hope this helps!

[scotianostra]

October 11th 1297 was the date of the letter from William Wallace to the mayor of Lübeck.

Today in 1297 a letter from Sir William Wallace and Sir Andrew Moray to the mayors of Lübeck and Hamburg was drawn up, saying that "The Kingdom of Scotland has, by God's Grace, recovered by battle from the power of the English".

This is a remarkable piece of history, and I am honoured to have seen it in person when it was on loan to Scotland a few years ago.

The Lübeck letter was first discovered preserved in the Lübeck archives in the 1820s. It was often mentioned in books thereafter. In 1942, Lübeck, on the Baltic coast of Germany, was attacked by Allied aircraft. As a result, the town's archives, including the letter, were moved to a saltmine for safety. At the end of the war, the Soviet army took the papers east. The archives were later handed over to the archive administration of East Germany, but the medieval documents were not among the records. It was assumed that they had been lost.

In the 1970s Lübeck documents were found in the archives of the USSR. In 1990, after some negotiation, the town's medieval records, including Wallace and Murray's letter, were returned to Lübeck.

There have been calls for the letter to be returned to Scotland, whereas it would be nice to have it to display in one of our museums I think it is as much a piece of Lübeck's history as ours, and also as recipients of the letter it is rightfully there property.

Originally, there were two letters; one to Lübeck and one to Hamburg. The contents were identical and the letters were scribed within a month of the Scots’ success at Stirling Bridge.

The translated letter reads......

"Andrew de Murray and William Wallace, leaders of the army of the kingdom of Scotland, and the community of the same kingdom, to their worthy, discreet and beloved friends the mayors and communes of Lübeck and Hamburg, greeting, and increase always of sincere friendship.

It has been intimated to us by trustworthy merchants of the said kingdom of Scotland that you by your own goodwill are giving counsel, help and favour in all causes and business concerning us and our merchants, although our merits had not deserved this, and therefore all the more are we bound to you to give you thanks and a worthy recompense, to do which we are willing to be obliged to you; and we ask you that you will make it be proclaimed amongst your merchants that they can have secure access to all ports of the kingdom of Scotland with their merchandise since the kingdom of Scotland, thanks be to God, has by arms been recovered from the power of the English. Farewell.

Given at Haddington in Scotland on the 11th day of October in the year of grace one thousand two hundred and ninety seven.

We request moreover that you will see fit to forward the business of John Burnet and John Frere, our merchants, just as you wish us to forward the business of your merchants. Farewell. Given as before."

Significantly, the letter carries the only known impression of William Wallace's personal seal, which shows the Scottish Lion Rampant on the front and on the reverse, a strung bow with a protruding arrow. The inscription appears to read ‘William, son of Alan Wallace’, which is interesting in relation to determining just who Wallace was exactly. An Aleyn Waleys – described as ‘tenant le Roi du counte de Are’ – signed the 1296 ‘Ragman Roll’ and he is quite possibly William Wallace’s father.

Another thing about the letter is the fact that Moray is involved with it, Andrew de Moray was, in the North of Scotland every bit as important as Wallace, history tells us that he was wounded at Stirling Bridge and died of his wounds in November so how involved in this was he?, if I had a time machine I would use it to learn more about Wallace and Moray.

This is a great piece of history and as I said earlier, I would love it to be part of our archives and on display in a museum, but it is the property of the people of Lübeck and we as a nation are grateful that they lend it to us on occasion.

[rayleeschobel]

Things I feel like making prints of right now

1. Life size roadrunner

2. Life size great blue heron, but with four legs and posing kind of like the lion on the Scottish rampant flag

3. Coyotes howling at the moon with a common nighthawk flying and the title “can you hear the coyotes howling your name”

4. Just… a bunch of fish

[rainintheevening]

Okay, here goes.

The unicorn...

His name is Erah, or at least that's the most easily spoken version of his name

He can't talk, not human speech at least

He was born mute

He can talk horse, or the more complex dialect common among Talking Horses anyway

This is how he communicates

When they meet in Aslan’s camp, startling each other around a corner, Peter is honestly more struck by a creature who doesn't talk than he is by any of the ones that do

In all the fuss and hubbub, and with a sword hanging at his hip, Peter doesn't mind the unicorn's quiet

His eyes say plenty

Oreius translates for him

Philip also does this for Erah

Anyway Peter learns the unicorn's name, and that he thinks it would be the highest possible honour to be Peter's mount both in training and in battle

Unicorns do not let their riders fall

Except Erah does

He is horribly ashamed of this after the battle

Peter is desperately reassuring

"You got shot! You almost died! Lucy had to heal you with her magic cordial!"

Peter's never really ridden before

But on Erah's back he feels safe and strong and steady

On Erah's back he feels a lot more like the king he needs to be

When Erah first joined Aslan’s camp, along with his friend Philip the Talking Horse, he was planning to ask Aslan why he was born mute, why he'd been cursed in this way that had led to so much pain in the death of his dam and the sorrow of his sire

He wanted to ask Aslan to fix him, to make him like a normal unicorn

When Oreius brought him to Aslan, Erah could only whicker an approximation of the Lion's name, before he fell silent and trembling under the weight of that gaze, that saw every thought, and every suffering, and every way he felt inferior and broken, and... loved him.

And suddenly he didn't need to ask, he only knew that he was loved, exactly as he was, and oddly, that was quite enough of an answer

It became a blessing in one way, he later told Peter, as he would likely have left if Aslan had healed him, and then not met Peter

Peter learns him, learns every little way he communicates, the thousand different snorts and whickers and whinnies, the tilts of ears and head and back hooves, the shake of mane or swish of tail, the volumes read in his liquid dark eyes

They make their own language in a way, and Ed is fascinated by it, but can never really parse how they speak without words

So Erah the mute unicorn becomes High King Peter's battle horse

Legendary, iconic, the boy king of Narnia in his red tunic with the gold lion rampant, the silver sword called Rhindon, and the white unicorn he rides

No, riding a unicorn is not normal, but Erah doesn't care one whit, he wants to do this for Peter, his High King and his best friend, and Peter quickly comes to trust no other mount like Erah

Peter always leads the charge in battle, riding with the cavalry and the great cats

Edmund prefers fighting on foot, and often marches out with the foot soldiers

Philip is actually not fond of combat, and prefers it when Ed leaves him behind

Philip trains the girls to ride as well

Philip is also a great debating partner, and there is a running joke that Ed honed his conversation skills with his horse

Erah and Peter save each other's lives many times on the battlefield

Erah often takes Peter for a gallop when the High King is tired or discouraged or worried

Often Ed and Philip will join them, and the four are a beloved sight

Erah also likes being ridden by Lucy

She often tells him how beautiful and handsome he is until he would blush if unicorns could do that

Eventually Erah gets married to a sweet unicorn mare

Her name is Pearl

He still rides out to battle with Peter but doesn't live at the castle anymore

He doesn't want to have a whole herd like stallions normally would, one mare is enough for him, and he has to be there when Peter needs him

They've had three foals by the time the kings and queens vanish

No one knows exactly what happens

Philip is lost, uncertain, he spends days scouring the woods

Till he sees Aslan in a dream, and the Lion asks him why he mourns, asks Philip to trust, and tells him to 'be always ready for the coming of your king'

He comes home to Cair Paravel, and the worst part for him is having to tell Erah that Peter is gone

And Erah looks at him, and his eyes shine when Philip repeats Aslan’s words, because he'd heard the exact same thing in his own dream

'Be always ready for the coming of your king'

Back in England, the new school the boys get sent to has stables, and Peter is down there on the second day, talking to all the horses

He rides every chance he gets

The schoolmasters and boys who knew him before are surprised by how good he is

He's oddly regal in the saddle

Even more he often rides bareback

Ed rides too though not as much and only one particular horse

Edmund is a one horse boy

Peter gets very good with horses

They are much easier to talk to than his classmates

If anyone's having a problem with a horse, someone's gonna yell 'get Pevensie!' and more often than not, Peter can settle the animal down

But though he gets to know some of the horses quite well, nothing ever comes close to the bond he had with Erah, and as time passes and he misses Narnia more fiercely, sometimes riding is a painful reminder of what he has no longer

Now unicorns live long, and Erah lived near twice as long as most, saying farewell to many in that time, including his mare Pearl, and his beloved friend Philip, who also left many decendants behind

He never stopped waiting, never stopped looking for his king's return

Sometimes he would watch the sun set at the end of another day, and in the blaze of glory he would see Aslan’s face

He always wanted to ask 'why' but then he never did

He didn't understand why Aslan would take his beloved friend away, but he would never forget that he was loved, and Peter was loved, and they were all held between the great paws of the Lion anyway

Perhaps, he thought, near the end, King Peter had already gone ahead to Aslan’s country, and really it was Peter who was waiting for him

Erah did not see the Telmarine invasion

His great-grandsons fought in those bitter battles, and they suffered greatly in the losses

Unicorns were heavily persecuted as very obviously magical creatures and most of them fled north

North to the land that had been High King Peter's special domain

The legends of the high king and his white unicorn remained

It was a terrible blow to Peter, to return to a Narnia so changed, and to discover his old friend so long gone

Glenstorm knew the old legends, retelling several of them one night around the fire, while tears slid down Peter's cheeks, and Lucy curled close under his arm, and Caspian turned his head away, feeling like an intruder

Later, in a private moment with Aslan, Peter asked only one question: 'did he die at peace?'

Aslan said only (but very very gently), 'he waits for you still, son of Adam. Be at peace'

After they go back to England, Peter treasures his memories of Erah's friendship and loyalty, even writing a little memoir about the unicorn

He still rides whenever he can

He hopes he will see Erah again some day

In the end they are both rewarded

Erah finds he is mostly right for it seems he has no sooner arrived in Aslan’s country than there is the sound of much joy and the laughter of reunion

He sees two tall men, and he calls the blond one's name and Peter laughs, because, well, it's actually not surprising in the least that Erah should speak aloud, but it is still wonderful, and they run together

Peter wraps his arms around the warm neck, and Erah wraps his chin around Peter's back, and then Peter is up, astride him

Philip is talking next to them, and Ed is laughing and there is a whole wide open stretch of green in front of them, and the sweet smelling wind is singing their names with the Lion's breath

So they ride fast, and they ride free, and Erah and Peter are a king and a unicorn belonging to each other, and they follow the Lion wherever he goes

[sharenadraculea]

Mafia-Au!

As the lovely @lepetitmonstre has posted some very good smut over on AO3 set in a Mafia-Au I with some other on discord came up with, I wanted to talk more about it! There is theoratically a plot somewhere, but no promises that this will ever become a finished fic.

The Emporer: Runs The Imperium, newest and now biggest Mafia-group in town. No one knows where he came from, how old he is or how many kids he actually has. A absolute maniac with no problems to kill people and thinks that covering everything in gold is a great idea. Malcador: Emps right hand man, he does all the boring stuff. One of the very few people allowed to criticise Big E. Very exhausted, he needs a vacation. Valdor: E‘s butler, bodyguard and whatever else he might need. Makes very good tea and cake.

The Primarchs: E‘s most important underlings he delegates most tasks to. Some, but not all of them might be related to him. (Note: I haven‘t worked out all of them yet) Lion: Hitman, tough he has been on bodyguard-duty for Sang a lot as of lately. Definetly-neither-heterosexual-nor-monogamous-lifepartner of Leman and absolute psychopath. He has a pet-lion! Jagh: Everything vehicle-related. Need a get-away car? A car disappeared? Just a limo-driver? He‘ll do it. Also on the older side. No one really knows much about him. Leman: The other hitman. He has two giant definetly-not-wolves that might have a taste for human flesh. He has also been on bodyguard-duty for Sang a lot and yes, there is a very messy love-shape-thing-situation going on. It‘s gonna end in disaster. Sang: Daddys princess. The only one of his illegitimate kids E has ever acknowledged. He even tried to get her away, but why have a comfy luxurious life if you could do organized crime? Sometimes shocks people with how brutal she can get. Menace: Sangs cat. She found her in the trash. Has only one eye and probally wants to take over the world. Will try to murder everyone except Sang. Especially Horus. Rob: The one sane man. He runs a pizzaria (definetly not for moneylaundering purposes), the mafia is more his sidegig. He wants to get out, he is so tired of all that bullshit, but he also values his life. Has a surprisnhly healthy and stable relationship with Yvraine, despite her beeing from a rival group. Under no circumstances mention pineapple-pizza while around him. Floof: Robs dog. He‘s very big and fluffy and dumb. Loves cuddles. Floof is afraid of E. And cats. And gunshots. Because of that no one is allowed to carry firearms while in Robs Pizzaria. Horus: Emps‘ only legitimate child. Don‘t ask what happend with his mother. The favorite child and heir to E‘s crime-empire. Also engaged to Sang, because you know, keep it in the family. Their relationship is a toxic dumpsterfire even at the start. He‘s thinking about… let‘s just say getting rid of Emps. (Monstre changed some of the relationship-details for his one-shot) Alpharius and Omegon: No one knows where they came from, but E dragged them into his villa one day and announced that from now one they will do the internet-stuff. Most likely some of his many, many bastard-kids.

The Eldar: Used to be the big deal around, then somehow shattered into a lot of smaller groups and a lot got also arrested. Sometimes work together with the Imperium. Yvraine: Leader of one of the many Eldar-splinterfactions. In a semi-secret relationship with Rob. Still a absolute badass you should never underestimate.

The Orks: A gang of thugs/hooligans that just like to beat people up. There is very little logic behind how they act and they just generally are a problem for everyone else who is trying to do organized crime.

Chaos: The highly corrupt local authorities/police. They do absolutly nothing against the crime running rampant (except that one time Slaanesh destroyed the eldar) while getting bribes from everyone. But when they hear that Horus has some plans, they get interested…

I definetly want to include the other Xenos-factions, but I don‘t really have a good idea for them yet.

[zalia]

Got into Dual Destiny from patrol and took a bunch of pictures and a couple of videos of it. Really great to be able to wander around without the timer because it is *stunning*. The lighting especially is incredible in there and I've tried to capture it as much as I can but there's a limited amount I can do with screenshots. And because of the nature of the area it is not always very easy to get good screenshots without my Guardian in-frame. Couldn't get further than this because yeesh that room really does not want you anywhere except the islands and there's no man-cannons to shoot you around. That will be a job for when I get Navigator+Catalyst (if I ever do). Did this on Titan with grapple, Lion Rampant, and Falling Guillotine with eager edge. The flight there took a few tries because you have to fall enough to find the funnel without falling too much or you just die. As usual, feel free to use these for art references/backgrounds/cool stuff. I hope they're useful! Will be adding a link to the full set of pictures in reblog and in the comments!

[eventidesong]

Comms Board: Crystallise

Relatively small board for Aether and Siegfried, as Welt is capped out for a while. Please find them below the cut, thank-you!

AETHER:

-> Though the tradition and legacy of the Four Winds has been largely forgotten by Mondstadt’s general populace for centuries now, there have always been individuals, even if singular, who maintain their beliefs firmly and try to preserve whatever is left of these great memories. When a rumor circulates about Abyss Order making their nest anew in the Temples of the Lion and the Falcon, and the Knights of Favonius turn out to be too busy to handle this matter, these devoted people call upon any help they can recruit before whatever is left of the sanctuaries of old is ruined for good.

Come, challenge the Abyss Order if you dare, Aether is on hometurf here, so don't be surprised when the Prince himself has decided to deal with intruders... Personally.

Siegfried (@ichordreamed):

-> Though Belobog was a far cry from defrosting, expeditions out of the city are easier to execute on. One such expedition resulted in a rather… odd specimen. A strange creature, with a segmented trunk for a nose and gnarled tusks. Faint hues of pink radiate from inside, with faded pink markings decorating what would just be white and dark purple skin. Despite its massive size, there are no previous records of creatures like this on Belobog, and a signal has been put out, requesting any further information on this strangely alien beast and how it may have gotten here.

"Every Kaslana Bold Must Live By Their Oath. Purge The Vile Honkai And Smash The False Gods. Your Sires Sleep In The Fields As Humanity's Brave Shields. Thou Shalt Constitute Thyself As A Shield For The Weak And Innocent By The Judgement Of Shamash, Kaslana's Die And Never Yield"

Freshly arrived through means he hasn't disclosed in hunt of something that once was and will be again. The Silvermanes have warned of the white haired stranger on the prowl for the odd specimen running rampant. Who knows what the Snowstorm hides...?

[annachum]

The Legend of the Great Empire of Dawn ( and aftermaths of the Far East of Essos )

Dawn of Yi Ti

. Once upon a time, around at least a thousand years before the founding of Old Valyrian Empire, the God on Earth ( son of Lion of Night and Maiden of Light ) was sent down to Planetos from the Jade Heavens realm to found Yi Ti

. Then several other tribes of the Far East of Essos grew - eventually forming the nations later known as Lenghi, Jogos Nghai, Lhazar, Great Moraq, Shadowlands and Mossovy

. The Pearl Emperor, the God on Earth's eldest son, ruled Yi Ti during its still fledgling days. And as Yi Ti grew, so did the Empire of the Dawn.

. The Empire of the Dawn faced many turmoils and wars in its growth. Eventually, the Opal Emperor finally consolidated all the Far East tribes of Essos into the Great Empire of Dawn

Great Empire of Dawn

. With a brand new Empire, the Opal Emperor implements new reformation of schools, the Faith of Night and Day ( loosely based on Taoism ), and invited scholars far and wide across East Essos to Yi Ti. It was during that time he married a Princess of the Old Kingdom of Jogos Nghai, who later on became the biological mother of the Amethyst Empress and the Bloodstone Emperor

. Originally the Bloodstone Emperor was trained to be the next Emperor of the Dawn Empire. Yet due to his increasing instability of mind, the throne was ultimately passed down to the Amethyst Empress, while the Bloodstone Emperor was granted co rulership with his elder sister to be Regent of the North of the Dawn Empire, as the Amethyst Empress ruled the South of the Dawn Empire

. At first, both siblings tried their best to get along civilly. Yet as tensions between the North and South of the Dawn Empire grew, so did their sibling dynamic. It all cumulated to one night, when the Bloodstone Emperor himself managed to sneak into the heavily guarded walls of the Yi Ti Capital ( ie he flat out killed all the guards with dark magic he learned from a Jogos Nghai mage ) and cut off the Amethyst Empress' head with his sword

. Now usurped the throne of the Empire of Dawn, the Bloodstone Emperor's tyranny became rampant. He conducted Massacres on the supporters of the Amethyst Empress left and right, burned down all the bamboo scrolls tried to oppose him, and even had those who tried to oppose him bury them ALIVE.

. The Golden Dragon clan, one of the supporting clans of the Amethyst Empress, fled all the way to the North of Lenghi to gain support from allies there.

. After around 8 years of great turmoil, the Golden Dragon tribe finally led a Great Storming of the Bloodstone palace, and had the Bloodstone Emperor burned at stake at the same night

Golden Empire of Yi Ti

. Although the Great Empire of Dawn has fallen, at least the Golden Dragon clan can found a new empire in Yi Ti, with new reforms and a great push of cultural renaissance in there

. Even so, there is still a hunch of dramas in the Golden Dragon Dynasty of Yi Ti - with diplomatic dramas in the Far East of Essos, the forming of the Old Jogos Nghai Empire, the ever changing empire territories of Great Moraq, the Yi Ti/Old Valyria cold war like rivalry, and lord knows what else

. The Golden Empire of Yi Ti was later on ruled by a succession of oligarch and Imperial clans often embroiled in succession wars after the twilight of the Golden Dragon Dynasty ( which later on paved way to War of the 3 Dragons in Yi Ti - loosely based on the 3 Kingdoms era in Ancient China )

. The Dothraki founded a vast empire between analogue 5th to 7th centuries, with luckily Yi Ti able to hold a strong defense against Dothraki attacks then, for most part

. In analogue 12th century, while Westeros was having Dance of the Dragons, the Jogos Nghai founded a new Empire which spanned much of the Far East of Essos including Yi Ti.....until in the next century, the Yi Tish native clans pushed back the Jogos Nghai rule of Yi Ti

Footnotes :

. The forming of the Great Empire of Dawn is inspired by the pre Han Dynasties of China - ie Shang to Qin Dynasties

. The Wars of the 7 Eastern clans is loosely based on the 7 Kingdoms period in Ancient China

. The Bloodstone Emperor is clearly loosely based on Emperor Qin Shi Huang

. The Amethyst Empress may have some nods to Wu Zetian

. In Ancient China, despite all the drama afoot, Chinese royals and nobles often intermarry with royal and noble clans of neighboring Asian countries

. The Imperial and oligarch Dynasties in the Golden Empire of Yi Ti is inspired by the Han Dynasty and the Dynasties in Ancient China after that

[ritterum]

Three Tales of Ukkabal

One day, some students were having a discussion about the origin of Man when they came to a disagreement that neither honey nor garum could assuage. For the sake of their friendship, they resolved to suspend the discussion and sought out the wisdom of their master, Junan, in the temple.

“O Teacher,” they said, “where do we come from?

Junan said: “Where you come from is what you make it.”

The students, not understanding, replied: “Where then do we come from: the gods who made us, or the men who made themselves?”

At this, Junan lost his temper. “Idiot youngsters! Go bother the grounds-keeper with your foolishness; I have no time for sophistry.” Then he returned to attending the gods.

The students heeded his words, and their legs took them to Kizun, the grounds-keeper. “Dear sir,” they said, “pray enlighten us - where do we come from?”

This was Kizun’s reply:

- KIZUN’S TALE -

When the world was young and man and plant and beast still called each other equals, there was Speech, and speaking was Power, and every utterance was a violence upon the face of the land. Amid the seas of boiling rock and fields rampant with strangling fern came EREAKAIZA, whose visage was silence; and Ereakaiza gazed upon the land, where in their battles Lion and Stag cleft mountains in twain, and Ibex raised mighty Whale from geysers out of the deep. And Ereakaiza saw Millipede steal the legs from Slug and Snail, and Bat steal the wings from Emu. And Ereakaiza saw also that Wolf split Man from Man so that, enraptured by the beauty of his brother’s face and legs and breasts, Man would distract himself from the hunt and lay with his sprung-off kin; but instead, delight so possessed Man that he chased after Wolf to share with him these pleasures; and Wolf became Dog, who chased after Ox; and Ox became Cow, who chased after Horse.

Then Ereakaiza, tiring of this chaos, came and choked the Word out of every creature, and all of them howled and mewled and squeaked and ululated in anger and dismay, but to no end: for Speech had gone out of them, and their word was no longer deed carven upon the earth. So the creatures learned to resolve their disputes with blows, and to this end grew claw and thorn and sting, while Man retreated to his delights and built yokes and vineyards and pleasure-domes. And Ereakaiza took pity upon Man, from whom Wolf had taken his hunter’s cunning, and allowed him to retain the most part of his Speech. And this is why people take such joy in creating figments and toying with words and colors; for we are as children playing with their parents’ tools, in the hopes that one day we may be allowed to wield them fully once more.

Now Ereakaiza was content with the world, and wandered far afield to where the sands and the skies intertwine, in the place where neither Time nor Cause holds sway, and there made a dwelling, and listened as the earth and the wind and the sea wove together a song of primeval being. Ereakaiza slept then and sleeps still, dreaming of things long gone and things which we of the soil will not see come to pass. And all who come upon Ereakaiza’s form partake too of this slumber, for in this way they become party to blessed creation.

*

Some disciples were unsatisfied with this answer, and rather than resume the argument, they resolved to ask the street-sweeper, Bal-liao. “Dear madam,” they said, “pray enlighten us - where do we come from?”

This was Bal-liao’s reply:

- BAL-LIAO’S TALE -

The Wrath of Ukk

The children of Man were not always scattered across the realms, for the Firstborn once regarded each other as siblings, dwelling in the same lands and dining at each other’s feasts and building great houses together as close kin are wont to. But a hard drought came and laid waste to the fields, and there was a want of food in the land such that many people were brought to the edge of death.

The youngest of the Firstborn, who was named Inti, sought aid from Neb, who as eldest had first pick of the fruits of the earth. But Neb rebuffed him, and so Inti sailed to meet Kir [1], who as second-eldest had first pick of the fruits of the sea. But Kir, too, sent him away empty-handed, and so Inti went to meet Ukk, who had not yet withdrawn from the world, and as third-eldest had rights to the herds of the vast plains. Ukk’s heart was filled with mercy, and he gave to Inti a third part of his herds, and a third part of his lands between the mountains and the sea, where Inti and his family could settle and make themselves a new home.

For a time, prosperity blessed the siblings, and their fortunes and families grew. While Neb’s children settled the fertile deltas beyond their homelands, Kir’s children journeyed across the seas, and Ukk’s spread throughout the plains on horseback and ox. But Inti’s children were confined to the lands between the mountains and the sea, and soon enough, the land was not enough to hold them, nor the soil rich enough to sustain their herds, and they began to fear once more that starvation and death would be their doom. So they conspired to invade Ukk’s lands while he was away, inspecting the new borders of his realm; and they drove forth women and children and cattle alike, ransacking their houses and storming their fields.

When Ukk heard of this, he was become wroth, and immediately flew to his siblings to seek aid and counsel. But Neb rebuffed him, as he had done to Inti, and Kir too rebuffed him, as she had done to Inti. So Ukk, in his wrath, swore an oath to sever kin from kin, invoking the gods who dwelt in the mountains, and they, being beholden to Man, had no choice save to uphold it. But they, not wishing to see the blood of Man spilt upon the continent, also opened the Ways so that Ukk might take his leave and start anew in a strange land.

So Ukk gathered his wives and his children, and they rode for the Ways, out of deference for the gods who had birthed Them. But on the way, they came across Inti and his children, who had grown fat upon the land; and Ukk was filled with rage. He drove them before him, chasing them into the Ways, and would have followed them out again, into the mountains of a new world, had not the gods closed off that passage before his horse could get through.

Only then did Ukk settle in the land of the Ways, raising the first city, UKKABAL, upon the figure of the Sleeping God. From there did his children expand out, filling the rest of the land, and they kept good watch over the Ways, lest curious minds wander in or out and bring the strife of the First Siblings with them. [2]

*

Still some disciples were unsatisfied with this, so they returned to the temple and brought their query before their master, Junan, once more.

“O Teacher,” they said, “we have asked Kizun, the grounds-keeper, and we have asked Bal-liao, the street-sweeper, but we still do not know where we come from.”

Junan sighed. “Silly children,” he said. “Come, let me tell you a tale, then, and hopefully then you shall be satisfied.”

This was what Junan said:

- JUNAN’S TALE -

The Magistrate and the Crow

Once, there was a powerful magistrate who was known throughout the land for his wisdom, fairness, and knowledge. He lived in a terraced house far above the city, where many would travel from far and wide to hear his opinion on sundry matters.

It so happened that one day, a young crow landed in the magistrate’s courtyard with its wing broken. The magistrate, taking pity on the poor creature, took it in and attempted to mend it. But none of his strengths were in the art of healing, and so the magistrate had to pore over his books, make many a failed poultice, and consult with healers before he could care fully for his new charge. He nursed the crow back to health, and over this time formed a strong bond with it, so that it always returned to his side, singing when the magistrate played music, and listening intently when he discoursed about law and philosophy.

One morning, the magistrate was taken gravely ill, and had to retire to bed. He fell into a deep, deep sleep, from which none thought he would waken. In that sleep, he dreamt that he was a young chick, chirping desperately for its mother, gobbling down whatever new grub she came by to deliver. He dreamt that he was a fledgling, learning to spread its wings for the first time, soaring over the woods and the fields and the cities that men had built. He dreamt that he was a bird, picking at the ground, getting into a squabble with another bird, flying with the stabbing pain of a broken wing into an enclosed garden, where a kindly man picked him up with soft hands and laid him upon a table.

When the magistrate awoke from his slumber, he opened his window to find his friend the crow, who had waited all this time in the trees outside.

“My friend,” said the magistrate, “I know now who you are and what is meant for us, and it pains me what I must do, but there is no way around it. For you must seek new lands instead of returning to me (to me); and you must carry my spirit where I am not (am not). Thus, by the power of my station and the sacredness of our bond, I banish you from this city and this land, never to see your plumage or hear your cry ever again.”

And the crow nuzzled the magistrate’s arm, took to the heavens, and was never seen again in those parts until the magistrate’s death.

*

“Do you understand now the three parts to the answer?” [3] said Junan.

And the students were enlightened.

Runao’s Commentary:

The Scribe is the hour to show quiet authority and integrity. But take care that in your rush to dispense justice, you do not appear aloof and uncaring. For it is easiest to alienate those who come to your court when you are too caught up in fairness; and it is easiest to be unfair when you are trying to show pity.

Notes:

[1] Some scholars (Egidius 2001, Humbert 1997) note the similarity of the names “Neb” and “Kir” to the Egyptian nb (‘lord’) and the Greek κύριος (also ‘lord’). This resemblance is merely speculative, however. [2] Linguistic analysis suggests that this is a sanitized pastiche of two different folktales, both of which have long been known to scholars. In one of the original stories, Ukk slaughters Inti and his children, and is exiled by the gods to the land of the Ways. In the other story, it is Inti who is exiled, but Ukk grows jealous of him and usurps his position, banishing him to the ‘new world’ instead. Runao may have thought both versions unsuitable for his charges, or may have had philosophical reasons to challenge them. Such speculation is beyond the scope of this work. [3] The more commonly known version of this question - “Do you understand now that there are three parts to the answer?” (emphasis added) - is a mistranslation, popularized by Burton (1888).

[doamarierose-honoka]

The original Virtua Fighter was a pioneer in the fighting game genre. Developed by Sega AM2 and released exclusively for arcades in 1993, the title gained notoriety not only because of its intuitive gameplay, but also its visuals, which were considered realistic at the time. Virtua Fighter may look rudimentary and basic by today's standards, but back then, it was revolutionary. Sega's renowned fighting game was the first in its genre to feature fully 3D polygonal graphics. This aspect of Virtua Fighter was a major selling point, and ultimately contributed to the game becoming a worldwide phenomenon in the 90s.

Virtua Fighter has spawned multiple sequels and spin-offs over the years, from 1994's Virtua Fighter 2 all the way up to 2014's Virtua Fighter: Fever Combo. Unfortunately, though, other than a few ports and enhanced re-releases, the VF franchise has been dormant for quite some time. Recent rumors seem to suggest, however, that this may not be the case for long. The prominent insider Midori, also known as RyanFromTheBronx, alleged earlier this year that Sega was working on a new mainline entry in the VF series, presumably titled Virtua Fighter 6. This report, coupled with a recent tweet from Sega that fans believe was teasing VF 6, has led speculation to run rampant about this unannounced game. If Sega is indeed working on this title, then the company's revival of Virtua Fighter could prove to be a bigger deal than some might expect.

A Virtua Fighter Revival Could Prove to be Very Successful

Evidence Suggests that Virtua Fighter 6 May Be in the Works

Rumors and teases aside, there are reasons to think that a new Virtua Fighter game is in development. Back in December 2023, Sega announced a new initiative to resurrect some of its legacy IPs. Among the franchises the publisher revealed would receive this reboot treatment were Jet Set Radio, Crazy Taxi, Streets of Rage, Shinobi, and Golden Axe. While it didn't provide any specific details about the new installments in these dormant properties, such as their names or release dates, the firm did hint that even more classic Sega IPs would be brought back in the future, in addition to the aforementioned five.

It's anyone's guess as to what other franchises the company will decide to revive, but based off of recent comments from Sega COO Shuji Itsumi, one of them may end up being Virtua Fighter. Shortly after Sega unveiled its plans for dormant series revivals in December, Itsumi revealed in an interview with the Washington Post that the Japanese publisher was actively entertaining the idea of making a new VF game. Taking all this into account, it seems like the chances of Virtua Fighter 6 happening are higher than ever before, which is especially great considering the renaissance the fighting game genre has been having as of late.

Sega Could Capitalize on the Fighting Game Boom With a New Virtua Fighter Game

Fighting games are becoming more and more popular throughout the years. Two of the biggest franchises in the genre, Street Fighter and Tekken, have been on a roll lately. Street Fighter 6, which released last year, was met with rave reviews and broad commercial success. Tekken 8, meanwhile, debuted in 2024 to near-universal acclaim from critics, selling over two million copies just one month after its launch. If Sega does make a new, high-quality Virtual Fighter game, it could end up standing toe-to-toe with these giants and potentially eclipsing them in one regard: approachability.

Virtua Fighter 6 Could Use Approachability to Its Advantage

If there's one thing Virtua Fighter is known for besides 3D graphics, it's having an accessible learning curve. So many fighting games are hard to get into due to their complex gameplay mechanics, but in VF's case, that isn't an issue. The control schemes in most Virtual Fighter games are quite simple and easy to understand since general combat maneuvers typically only involve the use of three buttons and an 8-directional control stick. If a new Virtua Fighter game doubles down on this approachable gameplay philosophy that previous entries in the franchise had, it may appeal to a broader-than-usual audience, which could lead to it becoming one of Sega's next big hits.

[scotianostra]

On August 3rd 1305 William Wallace was betrayed and handed over to the English.

One of the biggest misconceptions in the story about Wallace is that Robert the Bruce betrayed him, this is not true and one of many inaccuracies in the Hollywood film Braveheart, a great film in it’s own right, but it was not a true depiction on our heroes life, it was a Hollywood love story.

There has been debate about Wallace’s betrayal for centuries while Blind Harry’s accounts might be called into question because it was written over 250 years after the events, Sir John Menteith is the man that history has judged to have betrayed Wallace, Menteith’s descendants have argued that but for Harry’s account and tradition, there is no proof that the then sheriff of Dumbarton is innocent, they also say as the Sheriff of Dumbarton he may only have been doing his lawful duty, but as he was appointed by Edward king of England in my opinion this duty was illegal anyway

However putting the ancestors protests aside you only have to take a look at the evidence in the ‘Chronicle of Lancaster,’ written in the thirteenth century, where it is stated that 'William Wallace was taken by a Scotsman, namely, Sir John Menteith, and carried to London, where he was drawn, hanged, and beheaded. also in the account of the capture and execution of Wallace contained in the Arundel manuscript, written about the year 1320, it is stated that 'William Wallace was seized in the house of Ralph Rae by Sir John Menteith, and carried to London by Sir John de Segrave, where he was judged. John of Fordun a Scottish Chronicler wrote less than 100 years afterwards that..

'The noble William Wallace was, by Sir John Menteith, at Glasgow, while suspecting no evil, fraudulently betrayed and seized, delivered to the King of England, dismembered at London, and his quarters hung up in the towns of the most public places in England and Scotland, in opprobium of the Scots.’

Whatever the actual events there is little doubt in my mind of Menteith’s involvement, Wallace was held in Dumbarton Castle but by the 23rd of August, which to me seems a remarkably short amount of time, they had taken Wallace to London had a show trial and executed him, more to come of that in a few weeks time.

Pics are of The Wallace monument at Robroyston, the monument is a 20 foot high granite Celtic cross paid for by public subscription and unveiled before a crowd of around 1000 people at 4:30pm on Saturday 4th August 1900. The keen eyed among you will have noticed that the plaque says he was captured on August 5th, but my source in The Society of William Wallace has p[previously assured me that it was on the 3rd, those details read;

This memorial erected 1900 A.D. By public subscription is to mark the site of the house in which the hero of Scotland was basely betrayed and captured about midnight on 5th August 1305 when alone with his faithful friend and co patriot Kerlie Who was slain.

Wallace’s heroic patriotism as conspicuous in his death as in his life so roused and inspired his country that within nine years of his betrayal the work of his life was crowned with victory and Scotland’s independence regained on the Field of Bannockburn.

On the cross in stone is

In Defence

Then the Lion Rampant followed by

WALLACE MCCCV

&

"Dico Tibi Verum Libertas Optima Rerum Nunquam Servili Sub Nexu Vivito Fili"

Taught to Wallace in his boyhood.

(Latin translation as: "My Son, Freedom is best, I tell thee true, of all things to be won. Then never live within the Bond of Slavery.") "We are not here to sue for peace but to fight for the freedom of our country" Wallace at Stirling Bridge

Who dared to nobly stem tyrannic pride or nobly die

Burns.

I think the fact that so many attended that day, and the fact the public paid for the Cross speaks volumes, many see the story of Sir William Wallace as a modern reincarnation due to the film Braveheart, while this may have ignited the interest of many a Scot scattered around the globe with the Diaspora, it shows that Wallace was and is still a large part of the Scottish psyche.

[une-sanz-pluis]

Another gift which symbolised [Joan of Navarre's] welcome to the family were two golden tablets worth £79, which were given to Joan on behalf of her new stepsons John of Bedford and Humphrey of Gloucester. Tablets were a type of religious jewellery, which sometimes contained relics or depicted religious scenes and could be worn as a pendant on a chain. It appears that they were extremely fashionable in this period; indeed Ronald Lightbown claims that “by the 1390s the tablet was already a favourite type of devotional pendant in England”. Joan also gave Henry VI a tablet in her later years which was bejewelled with sapphires and emeralds and had an intricate and interesting design. The design featured “an ymage of Seynt George hauyng a crosse upon hys armure” and 12 enamelled lions—given that St George was the patron saint of England and the king's heraldry featured lions rampant, it was a very fitting present for its king. Henry VI also gave Joan a tablet as a New Year's gift in 1436 with a “great sapphire” on it, which had originally been given to him by “my Lady of Gloucestre”, mostly likely Eleanor Cobham—again indicating the cyclical nature of gift exchange by passing on a gift from one member of the royal family to another.

Elena Woodacre, Joan of Navarre Infanta, Duchess, Queen, Witch? (Routledge, 2022)

[rainintheevening]

Part I – Part II ... Part X – Part XI

It is an enduring image, in paintings, in books, in the legends that spread, in the mural swirled across one wall of the keep’s entrance hall in Cair Paravel.

High King Peter of Narnia, astride the unicorn Erah, red tunic with the gold lion rampant and sun shined silver armour, contrasted with the unicorn's gleaming white hide. He rides without saddle or rein, they all say, man and unicorn as one, and they speak a language no one else knows. Erah is the only mount the High King will ride to battle, and he has never let his king fall while he still stands. So goes the truth of the legends.

Theirs is an image Ed searches the narrow valley for as he surrenders his beaten foe into the care of Whiptail the panther, and turns back, eyes skipping over the great black lumps of fallen bears, the smaller pale lumps of their slain riders, the torn grass and mud, a fallen faun… The cloud cover has closed in again, threatening to return yesterday's rain, muting the colours of the life and death struggle, and the rush of battle is fading into the sober weariness of a dear-won triumph.

“Hailstar?” he calls as a passing centaur sights him. “Hast thou seen my brother?” Even as he speaks, he reads the sorrow in Hailstar's face, and his heart misses a beat, he is gripping his sword and bracing himself as he moves to the centaur’s side.

“Yes, majesty, he is just yonder, and would almost certainly be grateful for thy company. He has suffered some hurt, they say, but I fear Sir Erah has been dealt a mortal blow. The king is with him now.”

On the battlefield one grows accustomed to death, to loss, to marching back with fewer in one's ranks than went out. But this news strikes Edmund sharp and deep, and he hurries away in the direction Hailstar has indicated, without thanks or dismissal.

Erah? Erah felled? and Edmund reels back from the thought, already feeling the pain that must be gripping Peter's heart, but he will not hold himself away from it; if Erah is truly dying, Peter will need his brother's comfort. He sheaths his sword and runs, nimble over the ruts and bodies, careful of the slippery ground, and then…

Then blood.

There is blood, so much blood, a great deal too much of it, and Edmund has to pause, has to look a moment longer to assure himself that this is indeed his brother and the faithful white unicorn. Erah is stretched on his side, head cradled in his king's lap, and Peter's shoulders shake as he bends low, strokes tangled mane with fingers that do not seem to know exactly what they are supposed to be doing. Most of the blood on Peter's armour does not appear to be his, but Erah's white hide is scored with claw marks, some deep, and Ed's hopes shatter as he spies the broken-off stumps of some Bear-Riders’ pikestaffs protruding from the unicorn’s breath-heaving belly.

It is all crimson and brown, all blood- and mud-coated legs stretched out on the grass, all wild, keening struggle for air, and the unicorn’s suffering is a palpable thing, as Edmund kneels in the heat of it, opposite his brother.

Peter does not look up, but bends lower, traces a line up Erah's long nose through the blood and gore with his kisses, fast-falling tears washing a little of it all away.

Edmund blinks, sending tears tumbling down his own cheeks, and he fumbles with the buckles on his gauntlets, lays them aside so he may lay warm hands gentle on the unicorn's neck.

One dark eye rolls round to find him, a flash of recognition piercing the haze of agony, and another noise comes Erah's lips, something Edmund can barely recognize as a whicker.

Yet, for the first time, Edmund understands, he knows exactly what Erah has just said, has just asked of him, he needs no translator for the plea in that throaty utterance, and fresh tears spill over.

He opens his mouth to speak, to acknowledge and affirm that yes, yes, of course he will care for Peter, as tenderly as any brother could, of course he will watch over him in all of this, but there is nothing, no words, now he is the mute one, and he can only reach for Peter, lay his palm over shockingly cold fingers, till at last Peter looks up. Face and beard messy with tears and blood, eyes red with crying, golden hair dark and matted with sweat, he is the king no one sees in the paintings, he is Edmund's brokenhearted brother, he is a man struggling to say goodbye to the dearest of friends.

“He–” Peter's voice is wrecked with weeping. “He will not let me end it.”

Oh, Aslan.

Edmund reaches out to grip the back of Peter's neck with his other hand, and he pulls Peter in, presses their foreheads together, so their tears fall to mingle on Erah's neck between them. It is the kind of comfort Peter offers so readily, but now it is Edmund's privilege to return it.

No legends, no paintings come to mind for Edmund then, but only an image of Peter standing on Erah's back under a tree and tossing apples down for the unicorn to catch, another memory of finding Peter sleeping in the stable, curled against Erah's side. Peter as a boy, rolling in the grass howling with laughter as Erah pursued him with wiggling lips. The pair of them washing off under a small waterfall after a long session under Oreius's instruction. Peter laughing in the golden noon light, as he and Erah raced Edmund and Philip down the long track toward Beruna. Peter dozing in the sun with Erah's first colt asleep across his lap, while Erah and Pearl watch over them both.

A hundred little moments in which Edmund has witnessed the love his brother and this unicorn bear toward one another, yet he knows Peter must have a thousand more such images and sensations passing through his thoughts.

And this is how it is to end? This is when the beautiful life of a faithful, loving servant and friend is to fade out of this world?

Edmund is helpless in the teeth of all this pain, his brother's soft keening, the sobbing breaths of Erah, and the taste of blood is heavy on his tongue.

If only Lucy were here with her cordial, he thinks, and the thought of his sisters' coming grief is another blow.

Peter murmurs something low, something not quite words, and Erah answers in a heaving gasp.

Edmund draws back, wipes one hand roughly over his face, wanting to ignore the thought growing in the back of his mind, but it is sharp and bright as the edge of his sword, a terrible thought, but if it would save them at least a little of this agony, and Peter had only said Erah would not let him…

Yet as he looks again at his brother huddled low over Erah's head, as he tracks the tender fingers beginning to tease through the knots of blood drying in the long mane, he is struck as if by a dagger to his own heart that there is beauty here, there is beauty in love that lingers to the last breath, there is… something he cannot name here as Peter and Erah share their final moments together, something deeper and truer than the pain, something that will last long after the earth has greened over a grave and the heart-wound is but a tender scar. Love can make anything—anything at all, no matter how terrible—into a thing of beauty, and Edmund can not, will not, rob the ones he loves of such a thing. Rather he will guard it, bear witness to it, hold them in his own heart. Until it is over.

Peter looks up then, finds Edmund's eyes, before he looks past, looks behind his brother, and Edmund is close enough to see a flash of gold reflected in the High King’s tears.

Abruptly he is aware that the battlefield has hushed, the air has grown warmer, and he knows before he turns his head.

“Oh, Aslan,” and Peter's voice does not sound like Peter's, it is so small and broken. “Oh, Aslan, please.”

Edmund tears his gaze away from the Lion's face, looks back to his brother, and he sees no startled awe, no courtly reverence, no High King or magnificence. Just… Peter, armour covered in blood and mud, face streaked with the clean lines of tears, cradling Erah's head in his arms so tenderly, and looking up at Aslan with all the gieving hope of a child in his eyes, as if He is all that matters.

It is an image Edmund will never forget.

Erah, whose breathing has eased, says something deep in his throat, and Peter shakes his head sharply, cuts him off.

“Peace, Erah. I beg thee, Aslan, do not listen to him. My leg will mend, but his wounds–”

A sob rattles him, and Edmund reaches to take his hand, but Peter chokes out the words anyway: “Oh, Aslan, please. There- there is no other– Help. Help him. He is my friend. I love him.”

“I know, my son. I know.”

Aslan’s voice is rich and strong, as deep as if it came from the earth itself, as soft as spring rain. He holds Peter's gaze for a long moment, before he speaks again.

“Remove the pikes from his wounds.”

Peter turns at once, preparing to rise, but a hiss of pain escapes his lips.

“Brother?” he asks, but Edmund is already moving, shuffling on his knees till he can lean over the unicorn's belly to grasp the shafts of wood, thick as a wolf's leg.

He does not allow himself to hesitate, only trust, only obey, and he sets his jaw, seizing one, two, three, drawing them out swiftly, all scarlet and stained. The rush of blood is instant, and Edmund's breath catches in his throat, but then the golden presence is beside him, stooping down, lion's mane brushing his cheek. And softly, gently, rain begins to fall.

So Aslan comes, and bends his greatness low, paws in the mud, rain on his back, and like a mother with a newborn colt, the Lion's tongue cleans the blood away— everywhere He touches, the unicorn is healed, before their very eyes.

There are many wounds, and Aslan is thorough, but it seems only moments before Erah is lifting his head from Peter's lap, snorting into the High King’s face, so that Peter's sob is a laugh, and then he is gathering his legs under himself, and rises to stand above them, only mud or grass-green staining his white coat, darkened by the rain. Aslan steps back, as the unicorn steps forward, wobbly as a colt, until he sets his feet, shakes himself all over in the way of horses, and whinnies something loud and delighted. Edmund finds himself laughing, but he sees Peter is weeping once more as his brother stumbles to his feet, left leg buckling under his weight so he falls into Erah's shoulder.

The unicorn catches him, head ducking under Peter's arm in a practiced move, and Peter makes a wordless noise, part laugh, part cry, but all wild joy, and flings his arms around Erah's muscled neck, buries his face in the long mane. Erah curves around him, whickering softly, and then Edmund too is blinking away tears once more.

Aslan eyes are smiling, as he looks over at Edmund, and Edmund clambers to his feet, dips into a bow, smiles back, heart full. “We thank thee, Aslan. There are not words enough–” He shakes his head, spreads his hands, laughing again.

Rain falls in a fine grey mist, sweeping over the battlefield, yet it seems the sun has come out, everywhere there is colour and hope. Edmund still reels inside with this reversal of grief; he can only imagine how much deeper and greater Peter's emotions run.

Peter and Erah separate, though the High King still leans on the unicorn's shoulder as Edmund comes to Erah's other side, and they bow toward the Lion.

“Peace, my children,” Aslan says. “Your faith has been strengthened.” And He breathes on them then. “You are beloved of Me, and of one another. Rejoice.”

And then He is gone across the torn and wounded meadow, flickers of tawny gold through the mist.

There are many stories told of King Peter on the battlefield, and many pictures painted of he and his warmount, the white unicorn Erah. But to Edmund, the ones he loves best are the stories of his brother's great heart, and the images that linger in his memory are of a blond man stripped to his breeches, sitting up spluttering in a stream, with Erah prancing around him, while Edmund sits on the bank, cleaning his sword, and laughing.

Next

[bluenpinkcastle]

20240123: the History of LEGO Castle day 021. 6016-1 Knight's Arsenal (1987, 37 pieces, 22 different parts) This is another of my original sets from when I was growing up and I'd like to think it's still in pretty good shape, considering its age and how much I've loved it over the years :) The Knight's Arsenal is another in a long string of carts and wagons for the early "historical" era of LEGO Castle, though this is the first castle set to feature parts used in the concurrent classic space theme in the way of the three black 8.5 stud flexible hose with end stud connectors. The cart itself is a black cart with a blue horse harness attached to a white horse, brown wagon wheels, and red accents. This is the first set we've seen where the extra horse parts of the white 1x2 brick and plate are actually used in the set by making a small weapons block for two light gray hand axes. The minifigure has a red Lion Knight torso with blue arms and the silver breastplate pattern, a blue plastic cape, and plain blue legs. The minifigure has a blue rampant lion on a yellow background with a red outline shield and a brown spear while the back of the cart has three flexible hoses covering a storage area with two dark gray swords. Back of the box builds for this set include two different carts and a defensive shield. I have so many fond memories of telling stories with this cart and the errand the knight might be on in order to supply weapons. But to whom? And was this a delivery from the blacksmith shop? :) Overall, this is another example of a really great, really small build that made early LEGO castle sets more financially accessible to different people. Parts inventory for this set can be found at BrickLink or Rebrickable and a free download of this set's instructions can be found at ToysPeriod. The Knight's Arsenal (6016-1) is also part of a Castle 2 for 1 bonus set (0011-3) with 6041-1 Armor Shop from 1986.