#rolf security guard

[mirorbdangamachine]

So I saw a Reddit post discussing who everyone picked to perform the Rite of the Covenant with in Unicorn Overlord, where someone in the comments talked about how he made the choice based on what would have given Alain the biggest political advantage. They listed some examples, and that then got me thinking “What is EVERYONE’S advantages to Alain were he to pick them?”.

So I wrote all of those out for each and every character recruitable in the main portion of the story, alongside some potential downsides too.

Spoilers below the cut up until the final battle of the main game!

Without further ado, I shall now present all of these in sections based upon where the in game library says the character counts as being from:

Cornia:

Scarlett: Not only secures peace with Albion, but also means Alain has direct influence onto the control of Palevian Orthodoxy, enabling religious backing, and the country of Albion itself.

Lex: Nothing politically gained beyond increased public morale. 

Josef: This is his dad, the king’s guard are already secured with Alain because of this, same with all Liberation leaders. Don’t marry dad.

Chloe: Nothing politically gained beyond increased public morale.

Hodrick: This is kind of his uncle figure, probably shouldn’t do that. The king’s guard is already secured anyways. 

Clive: Strengthens ties to the Ashen Blue Knights, potentially making the Ashen Blue region swear fealty to Alain directly instead of his grandfather Gerard. 

Rolf: Nothing politically gained beyond increased public morale.

Sharon: Strengthens ties with the Palevian Orthodoxy, garnering support from religious entities.

Mordon: Seemingly much older than Alain, perhaps not appropriate. Would strengthen support with mercenary groups, may face criticism of perpetual drunkenness. 

Yahna: Unsure whether her power will enable her to continue to live forever or not. Served Alain’s mother as court sorceress, morally gray on whether this is appropriate. Would secure support from the southern swamp region of Cornia, and strengthen ties with Elheim.

Berenice: May garner support from mercenary groups and potentially the Ashen Blue Knights.

Selvie: Nothing politically gained beyond increased public morale.

Auch: Will secure allegiance with House Aubrey of Cornia. May potentially face criticism as a former commander of Zenoira.

Adel: Strengthens ties to the Ashen Blue Knights, potentially making the Ashen Blue region swear fealty to Alain directly instead of his grandfather Gerard.

Fran: Secures support from the Knights of the Rose, potentially able to rebuild the squadron and increase public morale as a result.

Nina: Secures support with a Cornian noble house, potentially may face criticism for former banditry work.

Miriam: Secures support from the Knights of the Rose, potentially able to rebuild the squadron and increase public morale as a result.

Kitra: Secures support from the Knights of the Rose, potentially able to rebuild the squadron and increase public morale as a result.

Melisandre: Secures allegiance of House Meillet of Cornia. May face criticism for swearing fealty to Zenoira during their invasion.

Colm: Significantly older than Alain, perhaps not appropriate. Would secure support of House Meillet. 

Monica: Secures allegiance of House Nordheim of Cornia. May face criticism for swearing fealty to Zenoira during their invasion.

Renault: Nothing politically gained, will most likely face criticism as a former high ranking general of Zenoira.

Tatiana: Nothing politically gained, will most likely face criticism for engaging in inhumane experimentation.

Virginia: This is Alain’s cousin, he realistically shouldn’t marry her. Not like that’s stopped royalty before though. Would ensure that the Cornian royal bloodline is not split and thus cannot have a dispute of royal succession. Also ensures allegiance of the Knights of the Rose.

Gammel: Nothing politically gained. May garner support from some in Elheim, though most likely will face criticism for banditry. 

Mandrin: Nothing politically gained. May garner support from some in Elheim, though most likely will face criticism for banditry.

Drakenhold:

Aubin: Garners support from the desert region of Drakenhold, strengthening ties between the two countries. May increase support from mercenary groups, but may face criticism for former banditry

Travis: Secures allegiance with House Zechshelm of Drakenhold, strengthening ties between it and Cornia. Also may garner support from mercenary groups.

Bruno: May increase support from mercenary groups. May face criticism as a former Zenoiran general.

Berengaria: Secures allegiance with House Zechshelm of Drakenhold, strengthens ties between the countries. May increase support from mercenary group, but may face criticism as a former general of Zenoira.

Leah: Strengthens ties with Drakenhold.

Primm: Strengthens ties with Drakenhold and the Palevian Orthodoxy.

Aramis: Secures peace with Drakenhold in secret.

Magellan: Garners support from the desert region of Drakenhold, strengthening ties between the two countries. May face criticism for former banditry and being a former commander of Zenoira. 

Liza: Garners support from the desert region of Drakenhold, strengthening ties between the two countries. May face criticism for former banditry. 

Gloucester: Strengthens ties with Drakenhold, though may face criticism as a former Zenoiran commander. 

Hilda: Nothing politically gained, will most likely face criticism as a former Zenoiran commander and inhumane treatment of citizens. 

Jeremy: Nothing politically gained. May increase support from mercenary groups.

Gilbert: Secures peace with Drakenhold, granting Alain direct influence on the country.

Bryce: Nothing politically gained. May face criticism for banditry.

Amalia: Nothing politically gained.

Elheim:

Rosalinde: Secures peace with Elheim, potentially giving Alain influence on the country. 

Lhinalagos: Strengthens ties with Elheim. 

Celeste: Strengths ties with Elheim.

Ithilion: Strengthens ties with Elheim. 

Eltolinde: Secures peace with Elheim, giving Alain direct influence on the country. 

Ridiel: Strengthens ties with Elheim. 

Railanor: Strengthens ties with Elheim. May face criticism as a former Zenorian general. 

Galadmir: Strengths ties with Elheim.

Bastorias:

Morard: Strengthens ties with Bastorias. While no one singular ruler has been selected yet for the country, he is one of the most likely candidates to take the position, which grants Alain direct influence on the country. 

Yunifi: Strengthens ties with Bastorias. While no one singular ruler has been selected yet for the country, she is one of the most likely candidates to take the position, which grants Alain direct influence on the country.

Ramona: Strengthens ties with Bastorias. While no one singular ruler has been selected yet for the country, she is one of the most likely candidates to take the position, which grants Alain direct influence on the country. However, she is implied to be much older than Alain, so this may be questioned on whether it’s appropriate. 

Dinah: Strengthens ties with Bastorias.

Bertrand: Strengthens ties with Bastorias. Questionable whether this is appropriate given his implied age due to having had a son.

Govil: Strengthens ties with Bastorias.

Albion:

Ochlys: Secures support from the Palevian Orthodoxy, strengthening ties with Albion.

Raenys: Strengthens ties with the Palveian Orthodoxy and Albion. Implied to be older based on her having been a lady-in-waiting for Scarlett as a child, so this may be questioned for whether it’s appropriate or not. 

Jerome: Secures allegiance of the Largion region of Albion, strengthening ties with Albion. Seemingly much older than Alain, this may not be appropriate. 

Umerus: Strengthens ties with the Palevian Orthodoxy, Albion, and the Heavenswing Knights. 

Fodoquia: Strengthens ties with the Palevian Orthodoxy, Albion, and the Heavenswing Knights. Questionable whether this is appropriate given his implied age due to having had a son.

Sanatio: May strengthen support from the Palevian Orthodoxy, Albion, and the Heavenswing Knights. Will most likely face criticism due to his part in covering up the murder of Pontifex Arant and following Zenoiran command.

If you happen to think of any other benefits or downsides to the characters, it would be neat to see what you think!

[amethyst-geek]

Here are some of my ideas for what to do with the Pocahontas characters in my hypothetical Disney superhero show-

Make it clear that this version of Pocahontas is not the same historical Pocahontas but rather an everyday teen who was named after her. Same with the Disney versions of John  Smith and John Rolfe, but in their case, it’s an in-universe coincidence rather than their respective parents actively naming them after historical figures.

Have John Smith be voiced by Crispin Freeman. Also introduce John Smith working as a security guard working at a corporation run the Ratcliffe or another villain, then upon learning the true nature of his employer and the invention Smith has been hired to guard, acts as an inside man for the heroes. 

Have John Rolfe turn out to be either the Beast long-lost half-brother OR Belle’s separated-at-birth twin brother (but not both, that’d be weird). 

[collymore]

Self-evidently, your Kate Middleton is having her plumbing removed; lol!

By Stanley Collymore

Look at the vast number of police officers they have guarding the door of what's undoubtedly a rather posh private hospital! Shouldn't such hospitals have their own security? So, quite sensibly, why essentially then are us, the quite average UK taxpayers literally and distinctly crucially footing the actual full bill obviously for all this when undeniably, significant numbers of us are very reasonably, and literally basically afraid to walk on the streets of Britain, even in truly broad daylight in plenty neighbourhoods these days, and evidently without a single bloody police car basically on patrol far less so, any coppers distinctively in sight!

(C) Stanley V. Collymore 18 January 2024.

Author's Remarks: Didn't the Metropolitan Police effectively quite arrogantly state in court documents relative to the Harry Windsor case relative to his personal security that they're simply and essentially not for hire? So how come, and why the fuck, are they so categorically providing that said service for a distinctly rather expensive posh hospital which most Britons obviously simply couldn't afford to be a patient at, yet the Metropolitan Police whose salaries they pay are the distinctive ones providing that same service literally, that Harry allegedly wasn't eligible for!

Welcome to still undeniably deeply Feudal Britain asininely ensconced in this the 21st Century and suitably infested with its sick, vile, toxically verminous, and undoubtedly, likewise unquestionably surfeit of actually sycophantic, monarchical serfs! Much too stupid to redeem their own pathetic state of affairs!

The rampant, and I'll even employ the apt terminology rabid kerfuffle as well clearly attendant with its wilfully contrived and purported mystery to very essentially milk maximum public sympathy while evidently purposely disclosing bugger all relative to this Stepford mother's obvious admission into hospital, stems undoubtedly so from a very embarrassing state of affairs which is essentially syphilis, and the urgent, and as well all appropriate measures to effectively deal with it!

Philip Schofield personally quite publicly admitted in later years after being clearly married for quite some time when he did come out, that he knew he was distinctly homosexual when he got married, later had two biological daughters that he very naturally sired by his wife but all the same, nevertheless carried on with is very secret homosexual passion. The Windsor family and their palace environment are littered with Queers and Dykes - a terminology I use only for those I utterly and evidently thoroughly despise, and not the likes of Phillip Schofield and other decent Gays and Lesbians worthy of respect; a state of affairs the Windsors and their lot rather markedly aren't worthy or will never be every worthy of. So it was altogether in my estimation very commendable of Philip Schofield and likewise courageous to do what he did; but most significantly as well confiding in and being honest with both his wife and daughters, who appreciated his honesty and have continued loving him. A marked contrast I assure you as would be the case with the plethora of Queers and Dykes in the Windsor family and their also equally debauched households where the likes of Jimmy Savile, Jeffrey Epstein, Bishop Peter Ball and Rolf Harris along with Ghislaine Maxwell had full sway and established relationships with the utterly sick and odious vile Windsor lot that you purblind cunts so grandiosely worship.

Not however a Philip Schofield situation with the Windsors and specifically so the current principal Stepford wife and also self-evidently very redundant mother and spouse. The body language, for all the sycophantic Daily Mail and its illiterate hacks hype, between gold digger stalker and her succumbed bi-Queer, makes what transpired between Diana and Charles look rather mild and tame stuff by comparison. A man who is distinctly bisexual but more so, as Philip Schofield was, evidently quite homosexual, and with a distinctly marked preference for homosexuality, but clearly without the balls or integrity of Philip to state what he actually is!

Likewise, he has also markedly turned off this rabid social climbing, stalker and gold digger slut that he was told to marry by his grandmother, who saw her as the quite apt Stepford wife and brood mare as she also perceived Diana to be. Categorically that old, thankfully now dead, cunt has a lot to answer for that's still plaguing Britain. But for this stalker to do a Diana and publicly complain is out, as both this stalker and her own mum have invested far too much in terms of controlled enterprise to simply give up now because their undeniably very successfully target has eventually come to what limited senses he has. Which are so very minor I assure you.

Consequently, they would both have very separate lives: Liz and Philip did, Charles and Camilla do, and the list goes on with this lot. In other words whenever Queer boy wished to prove his rather miniscule heterosexuality he would have some real fanny, generally with his long associated mistress and next door neighbour with whom they jointly have a bastard daughter but as transpires in such cases the wife is always married so the cuckolded husband quite automatically becomes the Dad! But we now thankfully live in the era of the DNA so knowing you're in the wrong yet making legal threats of defamation of character doesn't any longer work! Eh Baldy!?

Anyway, somewhere in this equation the dreaded lurgy of syphilis was contracted, possibly by him, but I think unlikely, and more likely by her given her known school days behaviour and recent indiscretions. But as the saying goes, you ultimately do reap what you sow. And from this clearly mentally liberated and discernibly proud Bajan/Briton what's happening to this vile, racist Karen woman and her still legally connected KKK aficionado husband just couldn't happen to two better persons. Lol!

[ededdneddy-artrefs]

[rhetoricalrogue]

WiP Wednesday

Actually on a Wednesday too! Tagged by @ejunkiet and @out-of-the-embers thank you both! The Boy is craving attention, but he didn’t specify what kind of attention. Brief mention of @alittlestarling’s Roz.

“It’s all right to be vulnerable, my darling.”

Rolfe frowned and continued to strum the lute in his lap, every so often writing a few notes in the pocket-sized notebook he kept on him at all times. “What are you talking about, Pen? I’m always vulnerable.”

The snort his companion gave was definitely unladylike. “Rolfe, you have so many layers of armor on that I wonder if you even realize how guarded you are. Even that handsome face of yours is a sort of mask to hide behind.”

“And here I thought you liked my pretty face.”

“I do, it’s one of my favorite faces to look at, but I love the man behind it even more.” Lady Penelope tilted her head. “There are no hoops to jump through with Roz, my boy. No demands made or conditions to meet to secure her affection.”

The chord he struck held a dissonant note. “I know that.” His voice was soft, the tone held close to his chest. “She’s a giving person, even if the people she gives herself to don’t deserve her.”

“I think that’s up to her to decide who is and isn’t worth her time.”

“She can do better than an unwanted bastard who’s an embarrassment to his family.” Lute set aside, Rolfe reached for the pipe and bag of tobacco kept in a jacket pocket before irritability realizing he didn’t have either on him.

Smoking was a nervous habit of his, done mostly whenever he was stressed. Rosalind had a way of soothing his nerves and giving him a sense of calm that had made him reach for his pipe less and less.

“One of these days I’m going to take my carriage and visit your mother, purely to punch her in the face.”

That made him bark out a quick laugh. “Get in line. I believe my cousin Ravena has dibs for first blood.”

[papermoonloveslucy]

FRED MACMURRAY

August 30, 1908

Frederick Martin MacMurray was born in Kankakee, Illinois. His aunt was a vaudeville performer and actress. Before MacMurray was two years old, his family moved to Madison, Wisconsin, where his father was a music teacher. He later attended school in Quincy, Illinois before earning a full scholarship to Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin. At Carroll, MacMurray played the saxophone in numerous local bands. He did not graduate from the college. Before signing with Paramount Pictures in 1934, he appeared on Broadway in Three's a Crowd (1930) and alongside Bob Hope in Roberta (1933).

Fred MacMurray (1908-91) appeared in over 100 films in his career. He is perhaps best remembered for the film Double Indemnity (1944). 

MacMurray’s name was first mentioned by Ethel in 1953 in “The Black Eye” (ILL S2;E20) when flowers arrive for Lucy mistakenly signed “Eternally yours, Fred.” 

LUCY: “Oh, now, Ethel, you certainly don’t think that these are from Fred Mertz, do you?” ETHEL: “Well, this card certainly wasn’t written by Fred MacMurray.”

MacMurray’s 1954 film The Caine Mutiny was often mentioned on “Lucy” sitcoms, often in the context of the film’s source material, a book and a play. In “Lucy Writes A Novel” (ILL S3;E24), Lucy plans to name the sequel to her novel “Sugar Cane Mutiny,” a pun on Cuba’s main export and the title of the (then) recently released film. In “Guess Who Owes Lucy $23.50?” (HL S1;E11) Van Johnson orders security guards to escort Lucy Carter out of the studio. A bitter Lucy says that now she’s glad he got court martialed The Caine Mutiny.

The first time that MacMurray appeared on screen with Lucille Ball was in “Lucy Hunts Uranium” a 1958 episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” set in the Nevada desert and Las Vegas. MacMurray played himself, and was briefly joined by his real-life second wife, June Haver. The storyline has MacMurray competing with Lucy for a claim on Uranium discovered in the desert. 

Lucille Ball later said that MacMurray was “fine enough” in this episode, but she really had to work with him on his comic timing, especially in the telephone booth scene. Ball and MacMurray clearly had different styles.

MY THREE SONS 

MacMurray is perhaps best remembered for playing Steve Douglas on “My Three Sons” (1960-72).

MacMurray and the long-running show was on the cover of TV Guide nine times! 

From 1960 to 1965, MacMurray was joined by William Frawley as Bub O’Casey, the family’s live-in maternal grandfather. 

When Frawley left the show due to ill-health he was replaced by another Desilu alumni, William Demarest, as Uncle Charley. Demarest did three films with Lucille Ball. For Christmas 1959, Frawley and Demarest both appeared with Lucy and Desi in “The Desilu Revue”. At the time, Demarest was working on the Desilu lot appearing in NBC’s “Love and Marriage.” 

On “My Three Sons” two of  Steve Douglas’ “sons” had been seen on “The Lucy Show”: Don Grady (Robbie Douglas) had played Chris Carmichael’s friend Bill and Barry Livingston (Ernie Douglas) had played Mr. Mooney’s son Arnold. Ted Eccles, who assumed the role of Arnold Mooney when Barry Livingston was busy on “My Three Sons,” also did an episode. Ralph Hart (who played Viv Bagley’s son Sherman), Jimmy Garrett (Jerry Carmichael) and Candy Moore (Lucy Carmichael’s daughter Chris) were also on the show.

Other “Lucy” performers on “My Three Sons” include: Mary Wickes, Doris Singleton, Shirley Mitchell, Barbara Pepper, Verna Felton, Kathleen Freeman, Jerry Hausner, Reta Shaw, Elvia Allman, Eleanor Audley, Burt Mustin, Olan Soule, Alberto Morin, Herb Vigran, Bill Quinn, Barbara Perry, Nancy Kulp, George Neise, Maxine Semon, Flip Mark, Roy Roberts, Lou Krugman, Ted Eccles, Richard Reeves, Dorothy Konrad, Ed Begley, Gail Bonney, Jay North, Rolfe Sedan, Tyler McVey, J. Pat O’Malley, Paul Picerni, Sandra Gould, Richard Deacon, Mabel Albertson, Joan Blondell, Leon Belasco, Dayton Lummis, Lurene Tuttle, Robert Foulk, Dick Patterson, Jamie Farr, Larry J. Blake, Amzie Strickland, Barbara Morrison, Louis Nicoletti, Frank Gerstle, Willy Lally, Gil Perkins, Tommy Ferrell, Eve McVeagh, Remo Pisani, Dub Taylor, Frank J. Scannell, Ray Kellogg, Romo Vincent, Stafford Repp, Jay Novello, and Leoda Richards.

The show’s Dialogue Coach / Director was Adele Sliff, whose name was used in the dialogue of “In Palm Springs” when Rock Hudson tells Lucy and Ethel a sad story.  Adele was also the “I Love Lucy” script clerk.

In 1961, MacMurray took part in “This is Your Life: William Frawley” in tribute to his co-star. Naturally, Lucille Ball also took part in the show. 

MacMurray was cast as Frank Beardsley in Yours, Mine and Ours (1968) opposite Lucille Ball, but withdrew and the role went to Henry Fonda.

In 1978, Lucy and MacMurray took to the dais to tribute Henry Fonda in “AFI Salutes Henry Fonda”. 

Two months later, Lucy and Fred were both seen in “Happy Birthday, Bob: A Salute to Bob Hope’s 75th Birthday” taped at the John F. Kennedy Center.

In 1986, they were both back for “AFI Achievement Award: A Tribute to Billy Wilder”. Curiously, neither MacMurray nor Ball had ever worked with Wilder. 

The last time Lucy and MacMurray shared the small screen (with June Haver) was at the “All-Star Party for Clint Eastwood” in 1986.

He married Lillian Lamont on June 20, 1936, and the couple adopted two children. 

After Lamont died of cancer on June 22, 1953, he married actress June Haver the following year. The couple adopted two more children in 1956. MacMurray and Haver's marriage lasted 37 years, until Fred's death at age 83 in 1991. 

[dragonsarrow]

I'm designing a purposely ugly fursuit, here he is so far plus he has Lore below

Fursona name is Rolf, nobody knows what the guy inside's name is cuz he only ever goes by Rolf

Everyone adores him for being such a fun friendly kind guy in the furry community

Got banned from a con once because he got in a heated debate with a volunteer security guard, on whether diapered adults should be allowed at an all-ages con

Lives for furry raves where his colors shine bright under the UV light

Would be a himbo if not for the fact hes physically a twink

[sadmmann]

Exactly 8 years ago, on July 22, 2011, two cooperative terrorist acts took place in Norway. The first attack was carried out by a bomb in the center of Oslo, 8 people were killed as a result of an explosion, and at least 209 people were injured, 12 seriously. A few hours later, a terrorist landed on the island of Utoya, there was a summer youth camp on it, and on that day hundreds of children were on the island. An armed mentally ill man opened fire on children, adolescents and adults. As a result, 69 people died and 110 were injured. 77 people died in this terrible, crazy tragic event. 77 smiles, dreams and aspirations are gone. Hundreds of people received the hardest injuries that they are fighting to this day, with physical and moral. Someone has learned to live again and someone will never be able to return to their former life. Because of the psychopath who thought that killing for a "good" purpose is right. Not. I want you to look at these faces and read their names, study their stories and remember. They deserve it.

Oslo bombing

Hanna Endresen, 61, Oslo

Receptionist in the security department of the Government Administration Services. She was described as a "good colleague".

Tove Ashill Knutsen, 56, Oslo

Secretary with the electricians and information technology workers' union. On her way to subway station when bomb exploded.

Kai Hauge, 32, Oslo

Owned a bar and restaurant in Oslo. A colleague described his death as "a great loss".

Jon Vegard Lervag, 32, Oslo

A lawyer who worked in the justice department. He was described as "socially engaged".

Ida Marie Hill, 34, Oslo

Originally from Grue, Hedmark county, Ida worked as an adviser to the ministry of justice. She was described as "a dear and highly-valued employee".

Hanne Ekroll Loevlie, 30, Oslo

A senior government worker originally from Tyristrand, Buskerud county. Colleagues said she "represented the best in us".

Anne Lise Holter, 51, Valer i Oestfold, Oestfold county

Senior consultant to Norway's PM Jens Stoltenberg's office. Officials sent their "warmest thoughts and sympathy" to her family and friends.

Kjersti Berg Sand, 26, Nord-Ordal

Worked on international issues in Justice Department. Colleagues said they had lost a "dear and highly valued employee".

Utoeya island shooting

Mona Abdinur, 18, Oslo

The committed young politician was described as "a well-loved friend, who was socially engaged and interested in multicultural issues". 

Maria Maageroe Johannesen, 17, Noetteroey, Vestfold county

Student at Greve Forest High School who was interested in music, dance and drama. Described as a wonderful, conscientious girl who was a "ray of sunshine".

Ismail Haji Ahmed 19 Hamar, Hedmark county

Better known as Isma Brown after appearing on a talent show. The dance instructor was described as a "very bubbly, happy, caring and happy boy. He was very positive with a very big heart.

Ronja Soettar Johansen, 17, Vefsn, Nordland county

An active blogger, Ronja had a keen interest in music. Friends said she was "a person with courage, commitment and kindness".

Thomas Margido Antonsen, 16, Oslo

A student council representative. Described by friends as "a boy who spread joy".

Sondre Kjoeren, 17, Orkdal, Soer-Troendelag county

Described as a gentle but committed person. He was said to have been heavily involved in efforts to get a new sports hall in his village.

Porntip Ardam, 21, Oslo

Known as Pamela. She was described as talented, super-intelligent, politically active and down to earth.

Margrethe Boeyum Kloeven, 16, Baerum, Akershus county

The student council leader was described as an "active and versatile girl".

Modupe Ellen Awoyemi, 15, Drammen, Buskerud county

Daughter of the city council politician Lola Awoyemi. Described as a kind and open girl, who was active in AUF discussions.

Syvert Knudsen, 17, Lyngdal, Vest-Agder county

The student politician is believed to have been one of the first shot on the island. His family described him as a "bubbly" boy with a keen interest in music.

Lene Maria Bergum, 19, Namsos, Nord-Troendelag

Her head teacher described her as an excellent, beautiful youth, who was sociable, interested in international issues. She had planned to start a summer job as a journalist.

Anders Kristiansen, 18, Bardu, Troms county

An active young politician and leader of the AUF in his area. He was said to be "full of initiative" with "a great desire to work in politics".

Kevin Daae Berland, 15, Akoey, Hordaland county

Active in Askoey AUF and was involved in local politics as well as being a member of the youth council.

Elisabeth Troennes Lie, 16, Halden, Oestfold county

A board member of the Halden AUF. Described as "the sweetest person in the world".

Trond Berntsen, 51, Oevre Eiker, Buskerud county

Crown Princess of Norway's step-brother. The royal court said the off-duty police officer was killed while working as a security guard on the island.

Gunnar Linaker, 23, Bardu, Troms county

Regional secretary of Labour party's youth wing. Father described him as a "calm, big teddy bear with lots of humour and lots of love".

Sverre Flate Bjoerkavag, 28, Sula, Soer-Troendelag county

Union official concerned about justice, equality and community thinking. Described as a well-liked young man who fought for pupils and students' rights. Was training to be a nurse.

Tamta Lipartelliani, 23, Georgia

Secretary of the international committee of the Young Socialists of Georgia.

Torjus Jakobsen Blattmann, 17, Kristiansand,Vest-Agder county

Son of former political adviser. His father said he was a boy "full of humour" who loved playing the guitar.

Eva Kathinka Lutken, 17, Sarpsborg, Oestfold county

She was described as an active politician who was well liked.

Monica Boesei, 45, Hole, Buskerud county

PM Jens Stoltenberg said: "To many of us, she was the embodiment of Utoeya. And now she is dead. Shot and killed whilst taking care of and giving joy to young people."

Even Flugstad Malmedal, 18, Gjoevik, Oppland county

The student with an interest in politics was described as "a gentle boy who stood up for his friends".

Carina Borgund, 18, Oslo

Friends and family said she was "kind, caring, gentle and positive. She loved life and spread joy to everyone around her".

Tarald Kuven Mjelde, 18, Osteroey

Said to be a big fan of Chelsea football team and described as "very warm, friendly and socially engaged".

Johannes Buoe, 14, Mandal, Vest-Agder county

"An independent boy with a good sense of humour," his parents told NRK. He was interested in dogs, hunting, snowmobiling and took an active part in the youth community.

Ruth Benedicte Vatndal Nilsen, 15, Toensberg, Vestfold county

Described by friends as "always happy, positive, and without prejudice".

Asta Sofie Helland Dahl, 16, Sortland, Nordland county

Teachers described her as a wonderful girl who was "open and cheerful".

Hakon Oedegaard, 17, Trondheim, Soer-Troendelag county

Music student at Heimdal high school and member of Byasen school marching band. Described as a role model for others in the band.

Sondre Furseth Dale, 17, Haugesund, Rogaland county

Had large network of friends through music scene and politics. Described as a dedicated person who put 100% into everything he was interested in.

Emil Okkenhaug, 15, Levanger, Nord-Troendelag county

A sports lover described as modest and liked by all who knew him.

Monica Iselin Didriksen, 18, Sund, Hordaland county

Active in Sund AUF, she was described by friends as a unique and bubbly girl.

Diderik Aamodt Olsen, 19, Nesodden, Akershus county

Vice president of Nesodden AUF. He was the youngest member of editorial staff working on the organisation's magazine.

Gizem Dogan, 17, Trondheim, Soer-Troendelag county

Described as a clever student who contributed to the cohesion of her class. Elected as central member of local AUF a month before the tragedy.

Henrik Pedersen, 27, Porsanger, Finnmark county

Leader of Porsanger AUF. Described as a "breath of fresh air" in the local community. A Labour colleague said he was very engaged and engaging.

Andreas Edvardsen, 18, Sarpsborg, Oestfold county

Director of Sarpsborg AUF and active in in the Labour youth league regional committee in Oestfold. Described as "a very caring and confident person".

Rolf Christopher Perreau, 25, Trondheim, Soer-Troendelag county

Known as Christopher. Long-term member of the AUF and was elected to the board in October. Described as a skilled orator and a charismatic young politician.

Tore Eikeland ,21, Osteroy, Hordaland county

PM Jens Stoltenberg described him as "one of our most talented young politicians".

Karar Mustafa Qasim, 19, Vestby, Akershus county

Originally from Iraq, Karar was with friends at summer camp when he was killed. The local mayor described his death as "an enormous tragedy".

Bendik Rosnaes Ellingsen, 18, Rygge, Oestfold county

Had a summer job at the justice ministry before attending camp. He was secretary of Moss Regional Labour Youth, who said they had lost a caring, open and inclusive boy.

Bano Abobakar Rashid, 18, Nesodden, Akershus county

Leader of Nesodden AUF. She was said to have dedicated her life to fighting for democracy and against racism.

Aleksander Aas Eriksen, 16, Meråker, Nord-Troendelag county

Described as socially-engaged as well as "impulsive and passionate".

Henrik Rasmussen, 18, Hadsel, Nordland county

Treasurer of Hadsel AUF. Said to be a very committed person, both in politics and culture.

Andrine Bakkene Espeland, 16, Fredrikstad, Oestfold county

Described as a politically-engaged girl who was keen to take care of the weakest.

Synne Roeyneland, 18, Oslo

A student described by friends as a "funny girl, who always had something to offer: opinions about politics and love and fun and witty comments".

Hanne Balch Fjalestad, 43, Lunner, Oppland county

Danish government confirmed the Danish national was killed while working on the island as a first aid assistant. She was with her 20-year-old daughter, who survived the shooting.

Ida Beathe Rogne, 17, Oestre Toten, Oppland county

A keen student described as happy and funny as well as determined.

Silje Merete Fjellbu, 17, Tinn, Telemark county

Student politician described as a "wonderful girl who had much to contribute".

Simon Saebo, 18, Salangen, Troms county

The student politician was said to be a natural leader. Those who knew him described him as trusting and kind, and a person who showed great concern for others.

Hanne Kristine Fridtun, 19 Stryn, Sogn og Fjordane county

The nursing student was the local AUF county chairman. Described as energetic with great commitment.

Marianne Sandvik, 16, Hundvag, Stavanger

The student was described as a quiet girl who always stood up for those who needed her. Her father said she was concerned with injustice in the world.

Andreas Dalby Groennesby, 17, Stange, Hedmark county

His father had exchanged text messages with him before the shooting. His father told NRK that public support had helped at a painful, terrible time.

Fredrik Lund Schjetne, 18, Eidsvoll, Akershus county

Described by friends as "a great person" whom it was "an honour" to have known.

Snorre Haller, 30, Trondheim, Soer-Troendelag county

Painter and union man. He was a board member of the Joint Association's Central Youth Committee. Described as a "kind, quiet and generous man".

Lejla Selaci, 17, Fredrikstad, Oestfold county

Leader of the AUF in Fredrikstad. Described as a "very happy and social girl who committed herself to what she believed in".

Rune Havdal, 43, Oevre Eiker, Buskerud county

Worked as a security guard on the island of Utoeya.

Birgitte Smetbak, 15, Noetteroey, Vestfold county

Politicians from her local area said hearing news of her death was "a difficult day".

Guro Vartdal Havoll, 18, Oersta, Moere og Romsdal

An active and determined politician, the young student's family said she was inspired by Ghandi and wanted to make the world a "better place".

Isabel Victoria Green Sogn, 17, Oslo

An enthusiastic member of the AUF who saw her future involved in politics.

Ingrid Berg Heggelund, 18, As, Akershus county

A student who said she loved going to school.

Silje Stamneshagen, 18, Askoey, Hordaland county

Active in Askoey AUF and played in school band. Classmates described her as a happy girl who lit up the school day and every day.

Karin Elena Holst, 15, Rana, Nordland county

A member of the Rana AUF, she spoke to her mother during the shooting. She had urged her daughter to hang up and hide.

Victoria Stenberg, 17, Nes, Akershus county

The oldest of three siblings, she was said to be looking forward to the youth camp.

Eivind Hovden, 15, Tokke, Telemark county

Eivind was involved in his local youth centre and was attending his first summer camp. Described as an "amazing guy, always happy, caring and helpful".

Tina Sukuvara, 18, Vadsoe, Finnmark county

Described as "very talented and engaged" and a person who participated actively in political debates.

Jamil Rafal Mohamad Jamil, 20, Eigersund, Rogaland county

Originally from Iraq, Jamil was described as happy, attentive and curious with a strong desire to contribute.

Sharidyn Svebakk-Boehn, 14, Drammen, Buskerud county

Known as Sissi to friends and family, the schoolgirl was described as a "beautiful, caring and vibrant girl".

Steinar Jessen, 16 Alta, Finnmark county

A keen member of the AUF. The mayor of Alta described him as "a flower that would have grown big and strong".

Havard Vederhus, 21, Oslo

Elected leader of Oslo Labour Youth in February. Friends said he was "ambitious and fearless".

Espen Joergensen, 17, Bodoe, Nordland county

Had recently become head of Bodoe AUF. His best friend said he was someone who could "light up the darkest days".

[yourcoolfriendwithallthecandy]

White Peacock Princess Part 5

Woo hoo, I needed to post this last part of this story before I dive into orctober. Anywho, @waiting4inspiration @youbloodymadgenius and @aworldwideapart wanted to be tagged. Enjoy. 

White  Peacock Princess 

Part 5

Once all the gold was secured, a good amount of it passed out everyone in Kattegat, you set off to do one more mission before you would marry Ivar. That being- to see his brothers. Twilla used guards, disguised as geese to find them before you left with your most trusted guardians. You were going to meet with them to “convince” them to submit to Ivar’s rule. 

You were spotted, a golden peacock surrounded by swans flying overhead and when you landed and transformed into your “Valkyrie” form, you and those with you, you noticed most of the men staring at you but too afraid to approach you. 

“Who is in charge here?” You asked them before they started to point before a brave soul came and showed you the Ragnarssons and the other kings they had in their company. 

“Oh shit.” They all murmured when you walked into their tent where a map was laid out where they were trying to figure out how to take Kattegat from Ivar. 

“Greetings my lords.” You greeted charmingly and courtesies and bowed, your wings bowing in turn before they moved to be upright again. “I am Sasha, Sultana of Valkyrie in Valhalla, sent by Odin. I have a message.” You offered. 

“Please deliver it.” Bjorn answered as he and the others looked at you in awe. 

“I come with an invitation, come to Kettegat as my guests to my marriage feast since it is I who will be married to your brother Ivar the Boneless, I will be his Sultana and will rule side by side with King Ivar and Queen Freydis. Stay in Kattegat as welcomed brothers returning from war. Your fighting is over if you wish it to be. But know that if you carry out your plans to come against Ivar, that my kind will still gladly come and bring you to Valhalla anyway, but know that none of you will ever make it past the city’s walls that are now guarded by my kind. Who’s weapons have strength you can only dream of.” You warned as you noticed all of them began looking like they were about to be ill. 

“Now? Who will swear to me to never come against my future husband?” You offered your outstretched hand for a handshake before Hvitserk came forward and clasped your arm before you allowed yourself to glow and heal him of any all wounds through your connection to him as your healing looked like golden lightning traveling through him before he let go, breathing heavy and stared at you before staring at himself in awe. 

“What did you do to me?” He asked. 

“I healed you. I wanted you to be in good health when you came to my wedding,” you smiled sweetly before the others took one look at each other before they too grasped your arm, your power going into them the same way, Ubba needed the most of your healing power. 

“Have you healed Ivar too?” They asked when you were done. 

“Yes I have, he now walks, runs and fights better than all of you.” You smiled proudly. 

“Now, before I go, I should warn you, should any of you try to overthrow Ivar or betray him in any way- the magic I have put into all of you that healed you- will become like poison because my magic protects me and since I am bonded to Ivar- it will be seen and viewed as dangerous rebellion against myself. First you will feel drunk, then you’ll feel silly, then the silliness will give way to craziness, which will give way to insanity and you will grind your own teeth into dust as you’ll wish to rip your own skin off your bodies just as the poison eats your bones from the inside and you’ll become boneless, ten times worse than Ivar ever was, you will collapse into a heap of flesh in the worst kind of agony which will destroy your minds because all of you have only known strength and all you will know is weakness which can be maddening inofitself, then, if Ivar, Freydis and I are feeling merciful- you’ll be fed to the pigs like the sons of bitches you are.” You explained before you bowed and curtsied once more and turned and left. 

A few months later they all arrived and gasped in astonishment when your home was settled above Kettegat, and there were indeed Valkyrie stationed on the walls of the city but when they walked in through the gate- Kettegat was seemingly abandoned but there was a new very fine palace now within the walls next to the great hall. 

“Where is everyone?” They asked the guards who simply pointed up to see a stairway being dropped from the clouds with you, Freydis and Ivar walking down the staircase, all of you dressed in magnificent splendor because Freydis had received Anja’s feather cloak while Ivar received Rolf’s feather cloak before they were imprisoned for their treason. 

“Hello my brothers.” Ivar greeted, walking just as well as they did as they stared in astonishment at him. It took less than an hour for a peace agreement to be struck and once it was, then all the stairways opened up and the inhabitants of Kettegat came down from the safety of the cloud. 

The next week was the wedding week and all of the people of Kettegat came into your palace in the skies, all them also dressed in splendor to attend it. Ivar was especially nervous even though you had talked him through the ceremony several times over as Freydis was standing across from him, also at the altar, herself dressed in the most magnificent dress she had ever worn. 

But when you walked down that aisle, he couldn’t stop himself from crying at the sight of you. 

The ceremony was simple, Ivar, Freydis and yourself were bound to each other for as long as you lived before you all took your cloaks off and cut them into threes before each of you giving the others a piece of your own before the pieces of cloak were joined together so that all of you now wore pieces of the other and were joined as a family unit. Once over- everyone was shown into the greatest feast ever. There were flowers everywhere and so many other moura’s showed up to the wedding, one in particular showing a great interest in Hvitserk since he was still unmarried. 

Ten months later you and Freydis were both in a room, both of you in labor at the same time as Ivar was between you and felt like both of his hands were going to be destroyed from both of your grips as Twilla was in the next room with her nephew Baldur and keeping him entertained along with your own parents who had come for the joyous occasion. 

“Ivar, if I live through this, I’m gonna kick your ass for doing this to me!” You yelled angrily as your labor progressed. 

“Um, I believe you wanted…” Ivar began to argue before the midwives shut him up immediately. 

“Don’t, just don’t. Just apologize, apologize and praise.” They coached him. 

“You’re right, I’m very very sorry Sasha, but as soon as you push them out, it’ll be all better. I promise, you’re doing so great Sweetheart, I’m so proud of you, I love you so much.” Ivar comforted you before he turned and comforted and praised Freydis for her efforts as her own labor progressed, you both had gotten some medicine to help with delivery but now you were in the final stage, actually pushing which was always the hardest part of laboring and delivering as Freydis took a turn yelling and threatening Ivar with bodily harm for doing this to her too. 

It had come as a surprise when the night before your wedding to Ivar had laid with Freydis and then spent your wedding day and night and your honeymoon which was two weeks long, with you and had gotten you pregnant the day after he had gotten Freydis pregnant, and while Freydis was only having one baby, you were having twins. 

It was seen as a very good sign and a major blessing because in your culture, twins were seen as having both a dragon and phoenix. All mouras were actually part phoenix and dragon characteristics but were still a species all their own. 

“Push Sultana, the first is crowning.” The midwife coached you as you pushed with all of your strength and once the first was out, you got to rest for a moment as Ivar cut the cord and the midwives got the baby cleaned up before you got to see your son, Dyre but only before you had to do it all over again with the second baby, this one a girl. Dahlia while Freydis gave birth to her daughter, Gala and once all the babies were born and the afterbirth was safely delivered too and all the babies were healthy and feeding did Ivar relax on a super large bed, Baldur laying on his chest, looking at his new siblings with fond curiosity as you and Freydis nursed your newborns as Ivar was overcome with happiness. Because his brothers were back home and they had made peace with each other and were adjusting well to the new changes of Kettegat having a King and Queen and Sultana.

[warriorcripple]

The Battle of the Iron Pass

Well, since this was rejected I am just putting it on here. I didn’t expect it to win, and it was a part of a much larger story so I don’t feel bad just releasing it. 

Prince David of house Lowenherz stood in front of his tent. His camp was a sprawling thing, their size and number hidden by the thick forest. The Green and Gold colors flew all around, Tents, armor, but the green and gold flags were what David noticed the most. A golden bull on a green field stood every few feet, a constant reminder of him and his family. David looked up at a flag with a bit of scorn and pride, it was the symbol of the family that had refused David his place within the family, but it was also the symbol of the soldiery that had followed him in three, and soon to be four battles. For half a second David thought about flying the Red and Gray of House Ironmountain since that’s whom he was fighting for but David decided against it. After all, he was the one representing Lowenherz interests in Northern Michigan. General Vendix stood quietly behind him with the other eight of David’s party, “My Prince, we must discuss the upcoming battle.”

“Tell me Vendix, do you think the soldiers would dislike me flying the Red and Grey?” David asked, the notion not letting go inside his mind.

“I would rather fight under the Green and Gold I pledged my life to, but I swore my oath to you only, so I wouldn’t mind.” Vendix replied without hesitation.

“Our army wouldn’t be so understanding my Prince.” Another spoke up, General Saber by the sound of the voice.

“I won seven battles with this army, I think I could do something like that with without too much fuss.” David replied.

“But what of your family? Rumors will spread that you’ve turned traitor and are siding with another family over your own kin.” General Liam said, a beast of a man who stood higher than most other soldiers.

“My liege,” said General Vivien, “time is not on our side and if battle happens tomorrow, we need our commands.” David turned his head at the sound of her voice. She was about the same height as David, if not taller, but her dented armor and scarred skin singled out her with one of the more storied careers of David’s generals. She had the right of it, David thought as he turned around to his tent and motioned to the inside of it.

Inside sat a simple bed, a chair, and a heavy table with maps scattered all across the surface. “My Prince we need to think about our place of battle. These woods are too thick for the cavalry and possibly too hard to fire arrows to and out of.” General Vendix said, following David in. David beelined to the chair and sat, he wanted as much time off of his feet before battle as possible. “Could someone get me a coffee mixed in with Willow Bark if Vendix wishes to continue to talk about the woods.” The General’s staff laughed nervously aside from Vendix. David continued, “I understand that you don’t want to fight in what looks like such a bad position, but we’re on top of a hill leading into the pass to Ironmountain. They will need to fight us here or else be trapped between the walls of Ironmountain itself or our army.” David rubbed his head, it was starting to hurt and he knew he was going to need that coffee soon. General Domonic stood forward, “Do you think out infantry could hold the ground against the Dubois infantry alone?” he said. David sat still for a few seconds, it was a valid question. Lowenherz armies have nominally faced off against smaller and poorly armed armies. But the Dubois army matched the mail and half plate of the Lowenherz that was a revolution that David’s father ushered in. And the Dubois numbered in a thousand if the scouts could believed. The Lowenherz lines alone were only four hundred in strength, with fifty cavalry and fifty archers making up the non-infantry parts of David’s army. But Ironmountain stood at it’s rear, and there is possibility that the sound alone could draw them to battle. But what if they think it’s a trap David’s mind whispered, knowing what he was doing was a massive gamble.

“General Saber,” David said, the name sounded silly when he said it aloud, but Saber chose it for himself and David would abide by that, “do you think you could hold the line for long enough for reinforcements?” as David looked to Saber, a Ward handed him his coffee. Saber paused for a long time. “I cannot say for certain yes or no. But me and General Noah could possibly delay a center push for long enough to regroup if we’re nearly routed.” There was truth to that statement, Saber and Noah were some of the strongest soldiers in his host and he had seen them personally hold ten men off at once during a route. But the army they were fighting wasn’t just ten men. David sipped the hot coffee and felt the headache leave, Lets hope to the divines it doesn’t flair up tomorrow he thought with his seemingly constant headaches. David made up his mind. “General Saber and Noah, you will hold the center. General Domonic, you will hold my left with all you can and you will anchor the army behind the end of the Ironriver, you will not let a soldier cross that river. General Vivien, you will push on the right like you did at Abrams.” General Vivien was a good commander, better at the management of the troops than the fighting. But she had won the day like this at the Battle of Abrams when they were outnumbered four to one. General Vendix shifted and was about to ask before David spoke before him, “General Vendix, I will charge you with finding a route around and hitting the army from the rear. Once you do, go for it. General Isaac, you will be in the reserves with me and all our archers. General Liam, you will send words back and forth between the Ironmountineers and us throughout the day, most importantly you need to tell me how quickly they’ll be able to get to our side in the battle. You’re all dismissed for now.” David leaned back into his chair as his staff left, looking over the maps.

They had studied the maps for months. David had joined late in the war, finishing up the campaigns in the east against the Drachen clan that clung to the lake. His father had ordered the Drachen clan campaign, but not the one to support the Ironmountian clan even though the Lowenherz were the allies to them (and were in line for succession). David joined with his own host when the Escanaba leader Rolf Ulfberht joined for the Dubois’ under James of Marinette. David led his small army in the Second Battle of the Ironwoods, securing victory out of a defeat. The Third Battle of the Ironwoods he couldn’t join in because his armies were too far away, and they broke the Ironwoods back to their holdfast the Ironfort. God these Yoopers love their Iron David thought, looking over the maps. Copper Harbor to the north withstood a naval invasion, but it seems it was supposed to draw the Iron armies out to support the bastard house. His gaze look south to the Lowenherz territory scribbled on the map. It was constantly expanding, with him and his older sister Elizabeth jockeying for succession rights by conquering more and more land. If there is a victory here, I could potentially be named heir to the Ironmountain throne David liked that notion, but the “if” in that sentiment worried him greatly. Should I write to the Hodinoshoni? Would the message even make it to them before we are broken and the war is lost? Could the Empire of Memphis send a legate in time? David’s mind continued to swim with ideas but none of them would mean he could get reinforcements before the battle happened. The Iron Pass would prove to be a graveyard to a great many soldiers, and possibly himself. He left the table, hoping to get sleep before the battle.

The next morning brought no pain relief for David. Standing was tough, his head throbbed and pain shot to all about his body when he just thought about moving. For a few seconds his mouth felt like it was sewn shut, but after a while he found his voice. “Guards! Get me the Willow Bark Coffee! Large!” He yelled, throwing his legs over the side of his bed and letting his body get used to being up, it would take at least five minutes before the coffee was ready, and another ten before the coffee was making it’s way through David’s body. Bloody fucking brain I have he thought, opening his eyes he saw his general staff standing over him. Noah already had the coffee in hand. “How long have I been sitting up?” David asked.

“Just now.”

“How long have you been waiting?”

“Five minutes.”

“Good, reports from our scouts?” David asked, sipping the concoation slowly and carefully.

“The Dubois’ camp is six hours march north, mostly cavalry it seems. They’re sitting in a field at the moment. I have found a path around, we’ll be going through the more treacherous and shorter eastern pass, but it will take a few hours to get around.” Vendix replied stiffly.

“Go do it and don’t die on the march, our enemies are probably on the march already.” David replied, sipping more. “Have the Ironmouinteers been notified?”

“Yes,” Liam replied, “They said they’ll join us but it will take a bit before the battle. They’re sending out their entire garrison minus the Ironguard. If I was willing to guess the Cavalry will be here first to enter the fray.”

“Does my grandfather think they Dubois will risk going around us? I mean the Drachen army is just to the west and would be able to trap them between two of the three peaks.”

“I personally don’t know, but he is convinced they will.”

“Damned old bastard. You know they said that in the old days he charged his cavalry out during siege and broke an Escanaban army. Where is that man when I need him?”

“He’s old David. You can’t expect a man to be as brave in his youth as he was in his youth as he is in his old age.” Saber replied.

“May whatever gods see that my sword doesn’t rust.” David replied, standing up. “Vivien, have you picked your soldiers?”

“I have.” She replied without hesitation, “I have picked the Drachen Shield breakers. Even though they’re from another clan, they’ll be useful to us in this battle. And they do not hold particular love for the Dubois.”

“Good enough choice, are you taken the Shield Maidens as well? If not I might place them under Domonic’s command.”

“No sir, the Drachen will be enough for me to push the right I hope.”

“Sir,” Noah interjected, “If I may, who will we be commanding?” He pointed to Saber.

“You’ll command the Rockfort Light infantry, and the Wausaukee light foot. The David Defenders will be placed under mine command and will reinforce the center if you start to route.”

“Hold the center with no heavy infantry? Do you wish us to die?” Saber asked.

“No, unless you decided you’d have better plans than serve your friend.”

“I am sorry again for asking, but do you mind if I try something?” Noah asked.

“What is it?” David replied, intrigued.

“So I had noticed last night that the leaves around are getting quite dry. It’s been two weeks since a good rainfall, and with fall in full swing they’d burn easily. If we could control it, possibly during a route, we could blind and trap the enemy in the smoke.”

“How are the winds today? Will they be favorable?”

“The smokestacks last night had a northward preference. But by the time of battle, the winds might change half a hundred times.” Isaac answered before anyone else can speak, his soft voice striking at the right time to enter.

“We could use barrels or maybe fans to shift the winds northward.” Noah replied.

“And pull more soldiers off the lines? We’re already fighting close to two to one at best and four to one at worst, we need to throw everyone we can into holding the lines.” Saber spat.

“What if our lines break? Our victory is far from guaranteed and we could blind our enemy for long enough to crush them.” Noah replied.

“Noah, how many soldiers do you need?” David asked, intrigued and wanting to stop the bickering.

“For the fire? Four maybe. Collection will take a bit longer and will need more soldiers.” Noah answered without pause.

“Do it. Take every freehand you need, use barrels and take as much kindling and fire materials that you need. If we win, we will collect more. If we lose, we won’t need fires. Someone call my wards, it’s high time I started to get suited for battle.”  

The two Drachen boys came in soon after, having been kept outside during the battle preparations. David didn’t quite trust them enough, but they were essentially hostages for the Drachen lords to not rebel. They helped David from his bed and began to dress him into the padded leather pants and thick wool shirt he would be wearing under his armor. Then came the mail, he crafted it in his youth and had his armorer continue to make sure it was strong enough. After that the simple iron plate he had commissioned in Racine, dented and with a golden bull painted on the front. The arm grieves David got on himself, but the leg greaves the boys had to do, along with the plate and mail boots. Then his sword belt, with the self-forged short sword during his stint as a blacksmith in the Free Cities. Finally the great Enclosed Helm he had also commissioned, it was mostly green with golden flanges. Putting it on it felt heavy and weird, and every part of David’s body wanted to take it off. But it was vital to survival in the coming battle. “Any questions before we leave?” David asked his general corps before leaving the tent. None rose to answer so David finished, “Nobody die.” Before leaving the tent.

Outside was a great warhorse, a great black beast of horse David named Electus. Mounting it was a challenge. In full plate and mail, it took three men to hoist him up to the horse and strap his legs in. Not because he was too heavy, at least not normally, but because all of his weight was dead weight. And as soon as he was picked up from the ground he went limp because his disability. But once upon the steed he was able to ride as good as any man, using the tips of his toes to tap the horse forward. His commanders went to their respective quarters to do their duties for battle was soon upon them.

An hour passed as soldiers and generals got to their positions. Behind the forward most line led by Saber and Noah were a group of four, setting down leaves and preparing for their ruse. Both the Drachen boys, Tim and William, stood next to David upon their own warhorses. Although neither were as old as David, both were easily larger and stronger than him, and they would act as his bodyguards during the fight. Devines I hope it doesn’t come to that he thought, looking out of the small pinholes in his helmet to the lines of soldiers in front of him. David looked back, the Defenders continued to form up. They were the heaviest infantry on the field, their armor glinted and their long steel tipped spears like a thousand needles waiting to find their targets. All of their surcoats were from different families that resided in Lowenherz territory. The twin red eagles of the Smiths from who Vendix came from, the grey harp of Saber’s McGregor clan, there were a few gray cogs of the Noah’s Karson, but the majority of the crests were either of the cadet branches of the Lowenherz or the three dragons of the Drachen clan.

Far, far down range Saber and Noah stood. Both of them shouting commands and orders to soldiers to get into position. He had seen them do it half a hundred times, the two were inseparable on the field and here was no different. They worked like clockwork, arms and orders yelled in either tandem or seconds apart. Both of them where David’s oldest supporters, back even before his little half brothers or little step sister came into the mix. The Lowenherz throne has gotten busier since then, but both Saber and Noah never missed a beat. Saber though, was obviously double thinking himself, looking back to positions and he had just set and then back to the older ones. He was panicking, Probably due to being use to heavy infantry David thought looking downrange. Tim asked, “What do you think Saber is doing? I mean sh-” David didn’t let him finish the sentence.

“Tim, you were there at the execution of the last man who called Saber a “she” weren’t you?”

“Uh. Yes m’lord.” Tim replied, shaken by the tone of voice.

“You are young, and so this is a warning. But I would hate to do an execution right before battle.” David replied.

“If I may David, what is he doing?” William spoke up, he was 15 and was older than Tim by a year. An inquisitive boy although not that keen on generalship.

“He is currently panicking. Self doubt and anxiety are the death nails of commanders and he knows it. And he knows that his security blanket of the heavy infantry aren’t here to help him. But, I think we’ll be fine. Worst comes to worst, we commit the heavy infantry early.” I hope we’ll be fine David corrected in his head, but he dared not voice it on the outside.

“Isaac!” David yelled, turning his warhorse around he found his friend mounted behind him. Just a few paces back were the David Defenders, and to the left of them Isaac’s Freemen. A ragtag group of peasants and noble archers alike, plucked from Isaac’s Father’s time as an outlaw and brigand.

“Aye, what is it?” Isaac asked, suited in the rough hewn plate and mail. Dented and scratched to hell and back, the imprint of a calm deer long faded from the countless times it needed to be repaired. Even his helmet, a nasal helm, was dented to the point that David questioned it’s usefulness.

“Get ready to fire into the smoke when it happens. I want you to continue to fire until we plug the gap or the fire runs out.”

“Aye, we can do that. I am not going to be committing my forces to the center if it fully breaks though.”

“I understand, and we need you to guard the camp encase of a rout before the Ironmountineers come and support us.” David turned his horse and watched as the armies continued to form up.

It was nearly two hours before the first signs of the Dubois army could be heard. Marching Songs David could hear “When Johnny Comes Marching Home��, an ancient hymn supposively sung by warriors of old upon returning home from campaign. David’s legs ached from being in the saddle for so long, but it would be a long day for them all. And the last day for a great many of them.

Finally after three hours they could see the first flags of theirs. The Blue Griffin on a golden field started to fly on the opposite side of the clearing. Vendix was probably halfway through scaling the gallery roads to be able to flank the Dubois, but even so the majority of David’s army was already dwarfed by the Dubois’ vanguard. About four hundred Lowenherz soldiers stood in the front line, across from nearly eight hundred Dubois soldiers if the amount of standards are to be believed. Eight flags stood on the other side of the clearing, obviously the Dubois commander thought David would attack into the middle of the field. The offer was tempting since they would’ve completed a march and would be tired, but they would leave their flank open to the rest of the Dubois army. If they came. Suddenly a shout from downfield, and Saber began to motion for him to come over. “God Dammit. Isaac, keep watch over my soldiers.” David ordered, putting his war horse to trot.

Saber had met him halfway through, “David, James Dubois has come with his cavalry and is offering to treat.”

“Is he wanting us to surrender? Or is to threaten us?” David pulled up his visor to his friend, if he was scared now Saber had not shown it on his face.

“He wants to offer you his army for the surrender of Ironmountain. He’s standing in the middle of the field.” Saber replied, his hand on his sword as he pointed to James Dubois.

There James Dubois stood. His armor shining brilliantly in the late summer sun. His breastplate had the great blue griffin emblazoned on the front, golden rivets lined his armor up and down. His helmet was a great helm dyed blue and gold, but off the back of the helmet were two small hussar wings lined with blue jay wings. He sat on the back of a great white mare, similarly inlaid with armor lined with blue and gold. But as David came closer he saw the scars of battle all over it, deep dents hammered out and long scratches covered the breast plate. The scars of war covered over but not totally hidden. The sun shone on him like a king of old. “Tell him I refuse.” David replied before trotting back to his camp. It would be better to fight for his throne with his own soldiers than with a usurper’s army.

An hour after he returned to Isaac than the battle had begun. James had come with his cavalry and only his cavalry, his foot must be hours at the very least away. But so is my own Cavalry the voice in the back of his head niggled. James led from the front, it would seem. His pompous wings bobbed up and down as he charged into the first and then the second lines. His own bastard sword swinging up and over his head only to come crashing down on a shield or to be parried by a sword. Twice in the first charge did David see the sword swing up with the marks of fresh blood only to come down and finish whatever poor bastard it had originally hit. The horses winned over the sight of blood and death, but their riders urged them forward.

Panic began to set in all along the line. Horses and men alike were panicking, the weight of the original charge would be enough to break any soldier lesser than the ones David had forged through the campaigns he had been on. But war was still war, and it is only common for the common rank and file to start to panic while being attacked. David could see Saber whipping his men back in line, forcing them into their positions. Noah was in the thick of it now, but even with that he could still see the bloody longsword he swung so skillfully. David could also hear the two over the thick of the battle. Both were some had some of the deepest voices now, with only himself and Vendix being able to out yell them. “GET BACK INTO YOUR LINES YA BASTARDS!” Saber yelled, slapping man after man on their back to get into the shieldwall to hold it. Noah was yelling various obscenities and yooper centric slurs at the enemy. David could see Noah’s sword swing back up and cut a horse’s head clean in two and a rider fall into the dirt with several Lowenherz soldiers swarming in and cutting the rider down. James kept his cool and continued to fight on in the frontline, his sword cutting more and more down as they pushed harder.

“Isaac!” David called out, “Who is your best shot?” Turning his horse from the battle he looked towards the line of the Freemen. Isaac pointed to a short, thin kid in the front line, he looked no older than sixteen but he had lost his family in the First Battle of the Ironwoods and was allowed to join the army. David had always felt bad for the kid, but here was his time to shine. “Shoot at the man with the wings, don’t kill him, just hurt him.” The kid nodded, notched and pulled back the arrow. Steady he held the bow, and then after a few second let loose.

Turning his head, David watched the arrow fly in the air. It struck true, right between two chainmail links and into the bottom of his arm. It was one of the best shots David had ever seen, and right at the most crucial moment. James called out in pain, and an ambitious soldier stabbed his horse in the neck. This was it, a masterstroke David thought, if he could capture James the entire war could be over here and now. Falling from his horse a thud could be heard all across the battlefield, and then, a lone soldier yelled “GET HIM!” before counter charging. A furious melee started, with sword and lance clashing against shield and armor. The Dubois surged forward to protect their king as the Lowenherz surged forward to capture him. But the cavalry was too heavy to push back, step after step the Lowenherz soldiers fell back and back. Until a Dubois cavalrymen jumped off his horse and gave it to James, letting him off the thick of the battle. More bloody battles are ahead of me David pushed the thought out of his head. He needed to win this one now, and then think about the others.

The line began to buckle. The failure to capture James was devastating, although the enemy must be demoralised seeing their king fall from his horse with a wound grievous enough to leave the thick of battle. With any luck the usurper will die from an infection David hoped. “Ready the fires.” David said, knowing the field of battle will soon change. Four people ran off back into the camp to grab fires. David looked over to his right flank. It wasn’t going terribly but it wasn’t great. Vivien tried to push on the right but was rebuffed by the Dubois cavalry. But, she was pushing, forcing the center in further and further. The left was holding well enough, the cavalry had to push across a small stream and up a small trench. The shieldmaidens were some of the best soldiers in the entire army, and it was easy to see how with their dogged defense of the stream. Not a single inch had been given to the cavalry, and they kept their high ground. The center was breaking, but that was also part of the plan.

And then, it finally broke. The center began to flee back towards the pre-picked spots. Just as the cavalry thought they had what they needed to totally break the Lowenherz here and now, the smoke began to billow from the fires. Shrouded by the smoke they wouldn’t be able to see or breathe, and arrows began to fly out of the smoke. Screams and coughs could be head over the din of battle. A cavalrymen of Dubois tried to shame his fellows in battle, “C’mon is this how you wish to die, forward! Forwar- AGH!” and then his voice fell dead. Chaos ensued behind the fire and smoke. A few tried to run to it only to jump through the flames and into a wall of arrows. More fled from the smoke to join the battle elsewhere. But the majority tried to flee through the sides that weren’t shooting them with arrows. Only to find the Rockfort or Wausaukee men ready to fight back. This time it was our turn to push them back, right into the smoke and arrows. Battle had turned for the Lowenherz and for a moment, David was proud of this plan. But battles turn just as fast as the wind, and this battle it would turn with the wind.

The fierce wind that had pushed the smoke into the enemy now pushed the smoke right into the archers. “Fuck, forward. Men, put out the goddamn fires!” David yelled through the coughs as he moved his horse froward, with his two wards following. The winds would turn again, but the damage was done, the light foot began to be pushed back again. The Defenders began to push forward with David, following their general towards whichever hell will meet them. Finally after a few minutes the fire was put out, and the Defenders could see their foe in the eye. David though, could see a curiosity: Lowenherz flags behind the army.

“CHARGE! FORWARD MEN OF LOWENHERZ! FORWARD BRAVE DEFENDERS! FORWARD TO GLORY!” David yelled, pressuring his soldiers forward into the renewed melee. The noose must be tightened David thought. The Defenders stopped at the ashed of the fire, unwilling to move over. “Forward!” David said again, riding in front of them as the melee happened behind him. “FORWARD!” He ordered. But they did not move. “Fuck it.” David said, “The day shall be won with or without you!” Before he jumped the ashes.

This was a mistake David immediately thought, his head had been pounding all battle. And now here he was, looking to fight much stronger men without company, on a migraine. He couldn’t let it slow him, he needed this victory here and now. Electus neighed as David pushed him forward. His first victim had his back turned, and neck unguarded. Raising his left hand and letting the speed of his horse do most of the work the head came off. But, the jigg was up, and he was in the thick of it now. A stab by a sword clashed against his wooden shield, yellow paint chips went flying. David’s own sword came down, cutting the attacker’s hand to the bone. The attacker yelled in pain and fell off his horse into the underbrush. David never saw what happened to him.

The battle David had been watching had quickly turned to only a few feet of combat, steel armor blocked his view and there was little area to maneuver the great warhorse Electus. Another with his back turned, and David struck without hesitation, the sword went right through the man’s neck and he dropped dead out of his saddle. Another attacker, this time an overhead strike. David moved to block, and he was quick enough to raise the shield enough to catch the longsword. Oh christ it’s a longsword David thought, just a moment too late. His whole arm reverberated with pain, splinters and paint went flying moments after the attack, but David couldn’t focus on that. His right arm hurt worse than it ever had, it felt like he just broke every bone in that arm, but the pain would soon only be a low throbbing pain. David counter, and stabbed through the plates cavalryman's grieves. The point hit home, and hit right through the upper muscles. The enemy screamed out in pain. The scream blood curdling if David wasn’t on the field of battle. Just as David pulled out his sword and took another slash at their sword arm he thought, Why am I not surrounded yet? Why haven’t I been cut down? Looking down for a second he found a person’s head, their helmet was colored Green and Gold. A spear through the throat ended his attacker.

A distant shout quickly became a chorus of “Retreat! The rear! Retreat!” Vendix finally joins the fray David swung his sword clumsy as he pushed further and further in. His body ached from the battle, and he wished to pull out of the fighting. A cavalryman in front of him threw down his sword, got off his horse, and yelled over the din of battle, “I surrender!” David gestured and yelled back, “Let the craven pass through ya lot!” The line behind him nodded and let the cavalryman pass through. Soon it would be a stream of soldiers passing through the lines of Defenders. The battle was all but over now, it would just be mopping up of the stubborn and the craven. David turned Electus and left the thick of battle. It would sicken him to continue to fight in the melee, and he needed to survey the battlefield.

Only two hundred of the eight hundred were in the Lowenherz death grip. But the battle was over, the defeated were already streaming past David. The Freemen were guarding them. “David,” Isaac said from behind David, “What are we to do with the defeated?”

“Sit them down and don’t let them escape. Any sight of the Ironmountineers?”

“No sir. It would seem they were too slow to join the battle. But what are we to do now sir?”

“We are to bury our dead.” David replied, surveying what was left of the battlefield. Dead men and women scattered the underbrush, blood watered the churned ground. The smell of smoke and blood was thick in the air now, the screams and cries of dying men and women filled the air like a terrible orchestra.  There would be a lot of dead to bury today, but at what cost is this victory? Was it all worth it? Did you get what you wanted David? He pushed that thought out of his head. It wasn’t wise to second guess decisions already made. His body ached though, and a migraine added drums the chorus of the dying.

[nemossubmarine]

Kill Team Campaign - Post-Mission log 3

“I got the control panel secured,” Snorri informed through his comm-link. “There was a mutated person here, but they left after that explosion.”

“We need you at the bridge,” came the voice of Rolf. “It seems the infected have left the ship.”

Snorri gave one longing look at the control panel. The creature had seemed to be in some kind of trance-like state as it had gazed upon it. It had hardly paid Snorri any attention. There must be some clues to the true nature of the infection left behind on it. Hopefully he’d have time to look into it.

Snorri sheathed his weapon, and made his way to the bridge, to a rather more chaotic scene. It was the stench that caught him off-guard. Its origin was not hard to decipher. Ivar was standing in the middle of the room, dripping with green and yellow substance, trying gingerly to get it off his hair.

“Snorri, see to Ivar, would you?” It was Rolf, who had knelt down next to Bear, who Snorri only now noticed, crumbled between the commander’s chair and a control panel.

“What happened to you?” Snorri asked, approaching Ivar, crinkling his nose at the smell assaulting his airways.

“It puked on me!” Ivar said, wiping vomit from his face.

“Interesting,” Snorri said. “Does anyone have a bottle or something?”

“I do,” came to voice from Uffe from the floor.

“You okay?” Snorri said, as he stretched out his arm to get the empty canteen Uffe offered.

“Yes.”

“At least he wasn’t puked on!” Ivar complained, as Snorri used a dagger from his belt to scrape some vomit off Ivar into the canteen.

“I’m sure you’ll be fine,” Snorri said. “Maybe. It doesn’t look actively infected, though we should probably get you to a shower.”

Snorri glanced at his leader for confirmation, but Rolf did not notice. He had helped Bear to his feet and was now talking to him silently, a hand against Bear’s cheek and another feeling around for chinks in his armor that the mutants’ attacks had left. Bear meanwhile was looking into Rolf’s eyes, leaning against the touch, patiently letting Rolf check him over.

“Rolf?” Snorri asked.

Rolf tore his gaze from Bear, and looked over Ivar, now mostly cleaned.

“Yes. I think we better head back. I need to report to Miss Vhane. Uffe, are you in any condition to stay behind with Snorri?”

Uffe got up from the floor, grimacing slightly.

“Good enough.”

“What do you want me to do?” Snorri asked.

“Find out everything and anything you can about this infection. Full permission to break into ship logs if need be. I don’t think Elucia has been completely forthright with what went down here. We need to know what they are after.”

“Are they after anything?” Ivar asked. “They’re chaos infected.”

“They could have stayed behind and fought,” Rolf said. “But they left. They are after something, and I want to know what that something is, before any more people get hurt.”

[previous entry] / [next entry]

[rhetoricalrogue]

CW for blood, violence, character death.

I wrote this back in 2017, but upon reading it over, it needed a bit of an editing overhaul.  Here’s part of my contribution of an AU that @alittlestarling and I have been yelling to the other for the better part of two years, and I’m hoping that posting it will get me to write something else for it.  For reference, Roz is her character and Vincent is mine.

“We need to talk.  Follow me.”  Years of ingrained habit had Vincent nodding and following the Templar into the cover of night, even though he could sense the wrongness in the situation down to his bones.  Ser Abernathy had been a Templar stationed at Ostwick for as long as Vincent could remember, and while he had never been outright cruel to his charges, he’d been stricter than most in finding - or making up, if Vincent was being honest - any minor infraction and punishing severely for it.  They were faint, but Vincent’s back still bore the slightest traces of scars earned when he had been a boy, a willow switch biting into his skin and teaching him a lesson about sticking up for fellow apprentices who could not.

He hadn’t learned his lesson that day, but he had learned how to be more subtle when lending aid in the future.  

“What can I help you with?” Vincent asked as they walked further away from Skyhold’s walls, habit again having him clasp his hands behind his back and rounding his shoulders to present the image of a cooperative, peaceful mage.

He knew exactly what Ser Abernathy wanted to speak with him about.  The Templar hadn’t been quiet about publicly accusing Roz of blood magic since his arrival to their mountain fortress, and Vincent doubted that he would stop his accusations until something was done.  The thought that Ser Abernathy’s respect for protocol and order were the only things keeping the former Circle Templar from cutting down Roz where she stood made fear claw at Vincent’s throat.  He figured that this private confrontation and assessment of what the newly named Inquisitor would do about it was the last step before he took matters into his own hands.

 Vincent would have to tread carefully.  Not only was Roz’s life on the line, but those of all the mages who walked freely as Inquisition allies.  If one Templar ignored the truce that had fallen between mages and the Order, he feared what the fallout would be.

“Rosalind.  She’s a maleficar.”

Vincent closed his eyes and decided to play stupid for a little while more, just to see what proof Ser Abernathy had.  He’d stormed into Skyhold raving about Rosalind murdering his friends, spitting the accusation of maleficar out at her like a curse.  “Roz? Ser Abernathy, you’ve known her since she first arrived; she wouldn’t hurt a fly!”

The older man frowned, his fingers nervously tapping at the pommel of the sword at his hip.  “Those are the ones that you have to watch the most.  They lure you into a false sense of security and then...”

“Have a care as to what you say, Ser,” Vincent warned, his hands clenching into fists behind his back.  “Rosalind has been a valuable asset to the Inquisition.  There would be many who would be affronted if your accusations proved to be false.”

“I’ve seen her perform firsthand.  I would have struck her down in Ostwick, but she moved out of my range. ��I’ve been tracking her ever since; I have strong reason to believe that she’s one of the catalysts of the Circle rebellion.”  Ser Abernathy stared at him, eyes hard.  “She needs to face justice, be it by your hand or mine.”

Vincent sighed and closed his eyes.  “I understand.”  He looked out to the small rocky clearing that Ser Abernathy had led them to, far away from the safety and warmth of the fortress.  It was remote, away from the main road, and no one traveled the currently unstable path this late at night.  No traffic meant no witnesses, should Vincent, Inquisitor or no, stray from the Helpful Mage script.  He let his shoulders slump.  “I must confess, I’ve had...doubts.  Suspicions that I didn’t want to think about.”

Ser Abernathy seemed to be surprised by Vincent’s words, almost as if he had expected a fight.  Vincent thought it was strange, seeing that aside from the sword he wore, he had neglected to wear any sort of armor. “I thought that you would deny it.”

“There have been too many cuts on her arms that she easily dismissed, ones that she took great care to hide from me.  I asked her about them and she couldn’t look me in the eye.”

“The two of you have been friends since childhood.  I doubt there’s much she can hide from you.”

Vincent nodded.  “Which is why I didn’t want to believe the evidence staring me in the face.” He took another deep breath and fought to stand up straight.  “You bring me firsthand accounts witnessing her using what we’ve been taught was forbidden.  Is there anyone else that was there that saw her?  Anyone else that can back up your accusations?”

“No.  The Templars who were at Ostwick all died, save for me.”

Vincent nodded, his fingernails cutting crescents into the meat of his palms as he tried not so show how badly his hands were shaking.  “Then I guess the next question now would be, what do we do about her?”

Ser Abernathy was quick to answer.  “Death or Tranquility.  They’re the only options that will suffice.”

Vincent felt nausea roll in his gut at the thought of Roz suffering either fate.  He released one of his hands from behind his back to pinch the bridge of his nose.  He knew what he had to do.  “I can’t see Roz turn Tranquil.”  It was the truth.  To see the expression go out of her eyes, to know that there was a piece of her forever cut off from herself...he’d die first. 

“Then you choose death for Roz.”

Vincent took a shuddering breath, the world spinning for a brief moment.  “Yes.” His hand clenched behind his back. “I choose death.”

Ser Abernathy came up to him and clasped his hand over Vincent’s shoulder.  “I know that this was a difficult decision for you.  You’ve been…”  Ser Abernathy didn’t finish, his breath seeming to hiss out of his mouth, his eyes wide as he stared at Vincent before looking down to the dagger stuck in his belly, belatedly realizing that Vincent had been armed this whole time.

Vincent’s expression was blank as he pulled Ser Abernathy closer. “I never said I chose death for her.”  He twisted his wrist and shoved the dagger deeper before pulling the blade out and almost mechanically stabbing over and over, only stopping once the pained gurgles and gasps his former guard gave quieted, the man’s eyes glazed over and face pale.

Vincent stared down at the body, alternating between relief that Roz was safe and wanting to vomit at the fact that he had killed someone so easily.  He dropped the knife and stared at his bloody hands, realizing they were violently trembling.  Sinking to his knees, he tried to breathe in and center himself, but the scent of blood triggered more memories of battlefields that he’d been on that he so desperately did not want to visit again. 

“You’re going to have to hide the body.”  Vincent spun around, fire flickering to life in his hands to attack the new intruder, only to see Rolfe slip out from the shadows.

“How long were you there?”  He’d never even heard anyone follow.

Rolfe crouched down and inspected the body, fingers pressing against the dead man’s throat to check for a pulse.  “I’ve been following the two of you ever since you left Skyhold. I didn’t like the guy the moment he showed up, and my gut said that he would try something the moment he had you away from prying eyes.”

Vincent closed his eyes and let the flames in his palms extinguish.  “I guess you could say that your gut was right.”

 “I also figured that you could use someone to back you up if things did go south.  Obviously you didn’t need the assist.”

“I never saw you.”

Rolfe rolled his eyes.  “I’d be a really shitty bodyguard if you’d have seen me coming.”  He sat back on his heels.  “You okay?”

Vincent swallowed hard.  “He was going to hurt Roz.  He said that she was a blood mage, he was going to kill her…”

“I know, I heard.” He put his hands on Vincent’s shoulders. “Slow, deep breaths.  This looks like it was your first time killing someone; the first ones are always the worst.”

Vincent frowned.  “I’ve killed people before.”  He let the memory of smoke and screaming hit him, anger fueling him back to his feet.  “You don’t know a damn thing about the things I’ve done, the things I had been ordered to do.”

“You’re right, I don’t. What I do know is that the people and the things you’ve killed since I met you have always been nameless faces, people who’ve attacked you first or that have done something to justify their deaths in some way.  Those are different kinds of deaths, ones you can go to sleep afterwards and not have them haunt you.” Rolfe looked down at the body again, noting the multiple stab wounds and defensive marks on the dead man’s hands. “This was personal; you not only knew him from the Circle, but he was threatening someone you care about.”

“He was going to hurt Roz,” Vincent repeated.  “I couldn’t let that happen.”

“And I don’t blame you.  If I were in your shoes, I would have done the same thing.”  He tipped his head.  “Maybe not exactly like this, it’s going to take some messing around to make it look like an accident, but I’ve worked with less before.”

“How can you be so…so…flippant about this?”  Vincent clenched his hands into fists at his sides, realizing in horror that they were tacky with Ser Abernathy’s blood.

“Because you didn’t answer me when I asked if you were okay.  I needed to get some sort of reaction out of you.”

“I’m fine,” Vincent said woodenly.

“Don’t stare at his face.  Committing what they look like in death to memory only fucks with you later on.”

“Have a lot of experience, don’t you?”

Rolfe shrugged, his expression blank.  “You aren’t the only one who’s been ordered to do things in the name of the order that has you under their thumb.  Just know that no matter how many people you’ve killed in the past, there’s a chance I’ve done far worse.” Rolfe picked up the dagger from the ground and wiped the blade on the shredded remains of Ser Abernathy’s shirt.  “How attached are you to this blade?”

“Not very.”

“Good, because I’m going to take a visit to the blacksmith and melt this down in the forge, get rid of the evidence.  You should head back to Skyhold.  I’ll hide the body nearby for now, then get with Leliana and explain what happened.  Together we’ll dispose of it more permanently, make sure it keeps quiet.”

“I didn’t think that we’d have to involve Leliana in this.”

“It would be hard not to.  Besides, it’s better to get her involved at the start instead of waiting and letting things get complicated. Ser Abernathy’s accusations were already made out in public - people don’t believe them of course - but we’re going to have to do some damage control, figure out a story that explains his abrupt departure from Skyhold.”  Rolfe pulled out a canteen of water from his belt.  Vincent numbly wondered why he’d have it in the first place, but then he noticed that Rolfe was also wearing an unfamiliar and oversized cloak, one that he more than likely thought to bring with him for the express purpose of rolling up a body in.  He’d come prepared.  “Hold your hands out, Vincent.  You’ve got blood on them.”

“Why are you doing this?”

“Because...” Rolfe unscrewed the cap and poured water onto Vincent’s hands before setting the canteen down and rubbing at the already drying bloodstains.  “ “Well, I’ve never had a little brother before.  And trust me, my older half-brother wouldn’t be questioning why I was helping, he’d be too busy trying to figure out how to get himself out of this mess and blame everything on me.”

Vincent snorted, feeling something aside from dread and disgust for the first time that evening. “Your older brother sounds like a dick.”

“That’s because he is one.” Satisfied that most of the blood was washed away, Rolfe stepped back. “And because this sort of thing isn’t for you. You’ve got the whole of Southern Thedas looking up to you.  Me?  I’ve got more than my share of blood on my hands, one more body isn’t going to matter in the grand scheme of things.”

Rolfe’s expression was unreadable in the dark, but Vincent caught his tone of voice.  “Thank you,” he said quietly, drying his hands on his pants.  “This is going to be complicated, isn’t it?”

Rolfe shook his head.  “I think you underestimate your spymaster and your diplomat.  They’ve been working on angles to spin the rumors ever since this guy showed up.  You and Roz are in good hands.”

Vincent caught Rolfe’s eye. “Roz is all that matters, Rolfe.  I’ll do anything to keep her safe.”

“I know.  And right now you need to go to her.  If I read her right, she’s planning on running.  She hasn’t had a chance to bolt yet, but she’ll probably decide to go under the cover of night, try to take herself out of the equation.”

“What?”

Rolfe raised an eyebrow.  “You aren’t the only one who would do anything to keep the ones you care about safe, Vincent.  She probably figures that if she’s not around, then the Inquisition won’t be known for harboring blood mages and your reputation will be intact.”

“So you believe it?”

“Not at first, and that’s a point in her favor.  She’s so unassuming that it makes accusations like this suspect.  And with no one alive to corroborate this one’s story, plus the fact that practically everyone here loves her, I’d say it won’t be difficult to put rumors down.”  Rolfe took off his cloak and spread it out close by the body. “When did you know?”

“After Redcliffe, after seeing what happened to her in the dark future.”

“Have you spoken to her about it?”

“Not directly.  She knows that I know, but we haven’t really spoken much about it.”  Neither of them had wanted to, but it was something that was going to have to be talked about now.

“It might be something you want to discuss.”  Rolfe rolled the body onto the cloak and efficiently wrapped it up.  Job done, he stripped off his shirt and handed it to his brother.  “You might want to wear this.  Yours is a little...”

Vincent grimaced as he realized that dark material or not, it was going to be difficult to hide the bloodstains that had gotten on his clothes.  Peeling himself out of the shirt, he grabbed the canteen off the ground and used what was left to wipe what had managed to soak into the material and get to his skin. “Thanks.”

Rolfe took Vincent’s ruined shirt and stuffed it inside the makeshift body bag.  Grunting, he hefted the body onto his shoulder, staggering a bit as he regained his balance.  Even in his older years, Ser Abernathy had been a solidly built man.  “Now, I need you to walk back to Skyhold as if nothing had happened.  I was watching and no one was around to see the two of you leave together, so his disappearance isn’t going to be something linked to you.  If it is questioned tomorrow, I’m sure that we can say he was ashamed for accusing Roz with something so dire without any proof and left, never to be seen again.”

“It’s pretty late, I should turn in.”

Rolfe nodded.  “You do look tired.  It’s understandable; you’ve had a few big days recently and things tend to catch up with you when you least expect them to.  I think you should go straight up to your room after your little walk you took to clear your head.”  Rolfe hitched the body higher on his shoulder and turned to go further down the path.  Vincent could barely make out the shape of a few decent sized boulders in the distance that would be excellent for temporarily hiding a body.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Sounds good.  Tell Roz hello for me.  I like her; it wouldn’t be the same around here if she did decide to leave.”

“I will.”  Vincent started down the path he had come from, but stopped after taking a few steps.  “The bodies and blood from your past don’t have to define you, Rolfe,” he quietly said.  “And you’ll always have a brother who cares about you, no matter if he needs your help or not.”

Rolfe didn’t say anything, he just squared his shoulders and slowly took off in the opposite direction, his gristly burden making him walk slower than he usually did.

Vincent watched him for a while before the darkness hid him from view.  Taking a deep breath and willing his heart to stop racing, he made his way back to Skyhold, hoping that he’d make it in time before Roz did decide to run.

He just hoped that he could make her change her mind and stay.

[orbemnews]

Global shipping was in chaos even before the Suez blockage. Shortages and higher prices loom The grounding of the Ever Given has delayed shipments of consumer goods from Asia to Europe and North America, and agricultural products moving in the opposite direction. As of Monday, some 367 vessels, including oil tankers and dozens of container ships, were waiting to transit the canal, which handles about 12% of global trade. “There’s been a great convergence of constraints in supply chains like I’ve never seen before,” said Bob Biesterfeld, the CEO of C.H. Robinson, one of the world’s largest logistics firms. The bottlenecks are widespread, affecting transport by air, ocean and road, Biesterfeld told CNN Business in an interview. “It really has been unprecedented.” Freight costs soaring More than 80% of global trade by volume is moved by sea, and the disruptions are adding billions of dollars to supply chain costs. Globally, the average cost to ship a 40-foot container shot up from $1,040 last June to $4,570 on March 1, according to S&P Global Platts. Those costs add up. In February, container shipping costs for seaborne US goods imports totaled $5.2 billion, compared to $2 billion during the same month in 2020, according to S&P Global Panjiva. These expenses could soon mean higher prices for consumers, adding upward pressure to rising inflation — a nightmare scenario for Wall Street, which is already fearful that a spike in prices could force the Federal Reserve to hike interest rates sooner than expected. “At the moment a lot of these costs are within the supply chains,” said Chris Rogers, a research analyst at S&P Global Panjiva. “I think it’s inevitable that it will be passed on to consumers — it’s just going to take time,” he added. The coronavirus wreaked havoc on global supply chains last year, as lockdowns temporarily closed factories and disrupted the normal flow of trade. Economic activity slowed dramatically at the start of the pandemic, and the rapid rebound in trade volumes that followed caught companies off guard. A pickup in manufacturing and seemingly insatiable demand from housebound consumers for goods such as televisions, furniture and exercise bikes has stretched suppliers and made it difficult for consumers to find the products they’d like to buy. Manufacturers have also struggled to secure crucial components. Major carmakers, including Ford (F) and Volkswagen (VLKAF), have been forced to idle factories because of a shortage of computer chips caused by high demand for smartphones, gaming systems and other tech gadgets. “One year ago, global trade slowed to a crawl as the Covid-19 pandemic first hit China and then spread worldwide,” Gene Seroka, executive director at the Port of Los Angeles, said in a presentation this month. “Today, we are in the seventh month of a historic import surge, driven by unprecedented demand by American consumers,” he added. US seaborne imports were nearly 30% higher in February than the same month last year and 20% up on February 2019, according to S&P Global Panjiva. The import surge in the United States and elsewhere has led to a worldwide container shortage. Everything from cars and machinery to apparel and other consumer staples are shipped in these metal boxes. The factories that make them are mostly in China and many of them closed early in the pandemic, slowing down the rate at which new capacity was coming on stream, according to Rogers. Containers are in all the wrong places China’s exports recovered fairly quickly compared to the rest of the world. At the same time, major shipping lines had canceled dozens of sailings to respond to the earlier lull in trade. The result was that empty containers piled up in all the wrong places and couldn’t meet the sudden demand in Europe and North America for Asia-made goods. Hapag-Lloyd (HPGLY), one of the world’s largest container shipping lines, has deployed about 52 additional vessels just to move hundreds of thousands of empty containers to where they’re needed most. In more normal times, there would be fewer than 10. “That’s in reality about a ship a week that’s doing nothing more than moving empty containers,” CEO Rolf Habben Jansen told investors on a call last week. The influx of imports has compounded problems at choked up ports, which are contending with labor shortages due to Covid-19 and a slowdown in operations caused by social distancing measures and quarantines. On Wednesday, there were two dozen vessels at anchor awaiting entry into either the Port of Los Angeles or the neighboring Port of Long Beach, according to Port of Los Angeles spokesperson, Phillip Sanfield. “At the Port of Los Angeles, we are actively working on an additional 17 container ships,” Sanfield told CNN Business. “Pre-pandemic, we would be working about 10 container ships with no container ships waiting to enter.” The port processed the equivalent of nearly 800,000 20-foot containers last month — the busiest February in its 114-year history. Companies feel the strain Companies from Under Armour (UA) and Hasbro (HAS) to Dollar Tree (DLTR), Urban Outfitters (URBN) and Crocs (CROX) have all warned about the supply chain crunch recently, pointing to container shortages, port congestion, rising shipping costs and logistics challenges. Costco (COST) said earlier this month that it was having trouble stocking imported cheeses because of a shortage of shipping containers and bottlenecks. An analysis of 7,000 company earnings calls globally in January and February by S&P Global Panjiva found that more than a quarter mentioned “freight,” 37% mentioned “logistics” and half discussed supply chains. “We know that the freight pressure across retail is here to stay and we’ve built that into our future plans,” Mark Tritton, the CEO of Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY), told investors in January. Aston Chemicals, a UK company that supplies European manufacturers of personal care products, said its shipping costs were 6.5 times more expensive in January compared to November. “We paid almost $14,000 for a container in January,” said managing director Dani Loughran. That was for a shipment from Malaysia to the port of Felixstowe in England, which just two months earlier had cost $2,100. Peloton blamed US West Coast port delays for causing “longer than acceptable wait times” for the delivery of its high-end exercise bikes. The company told shareholders in February that it’s investing over $100 million to expedite deliveries by air and sea over the next six months to improve delivery times. It’s not the only firm resorting to airplanes to move goods that would ordinarily come by boat, as companies scramble to keep up with customer demand. According to Biesterfeld of C.H. Robinson, a number of durable goods typically transported in shipping containers are being carried in planes, such as toys and games. Companies are “choosing air freight because inventories are so low,” he said. Air freight is more expensive than ocean freight even under normal circumstances and therefore reserved for high-value goods. These costs are even higher at the moment because fewer flights carrying travelers means less available capacity to transport goods, a chunk of which are typically carried in the bellies of passenger planes. That will only add to the costs facing businesses and could trickle down to consumers before long. Higher prices on the way Companies have so far said very little about how they plan to respond to soaring freight rates but there are early signs that import prices are rising. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, US import prices experienced their largest monthly increase in January since March 2012. “We anticipate strong demand from consumers to continue over the next couple of months and don’t see meaningful change in capacity over that short time period,” said Biesterfeld. The cost to move goods by air, ocean, truck and train is now “structurally up” on 2019 and contracts reflect that, he added. “I do think the costs are real and eventually will manifest themselves for consumers,” he said. The extent to which this feeds through to consumer prices will vary from one product to the next. Goods that rely more heavily on imported components will likely cost more. At the same time, if the cost of imported goods rises significantly or these products become less readily available, that could give domestic producers more leeway to increase prices, said Joanna Konings, a senior economist at ING. For Aston Chemicals, the cost increases were so severe that the only option was to pass them on to their customers: businesses that make everyday products such as shampoos, moisturizers and cosmetics. If those companies in turn decide to hike prices for their customers, in this case retailers, consumers could start to feel the pinch soon, said Konings. “Most prices along the supply chain have gone in one direction, and that’s up, so it has to appear somewhere.” Source link Orbem News #blockage #Chaos #Global #higher #Loom #Prices #Shipping #shortages #Suez

[sadmmann]

Utoya island shooting victims

June 22, 2011 in Norway, there were two consecutive terrorist attacks in the city of Oslo. The first attack was a car bomb explosion in Oslo within Regjeringskvartalet, the executive government quarter of Norway, at 15:25. The explosion killed eight people and injured at least 209 people, twelve severely. The second attack occurred less than two hours later at a summer camp on the island of Utøya in Tyrifjorden, Buskerud. The camp was organized by the AUF, the youth division of the ruling Norwegian Labour Party. The shooter opened fire at the participants, killing 69 and injuring at least 110 people.

Remember them and not the killer

Torjus Jakobsen Blattmann, 17, from Kristiansand

Son of former political adviser. His father said he was a boy "full of humour" who loved playing the guitar. He tried to call his father as the shooting started, but could not get through and was shot dead.

Eva Kathinka Lutken, 17, Sarpsborg, Oestfold county

She was described as an active politician who was well liked, was a cheerleader.

Bendik Rosnaes Ellingsen, 18, Rygge

While he was in ninth grade Bendik sent a letter to the Justice Department because he wanted a job, and last year he had his first engagement as a summer temporary staff in the department. His family described him as a caring, open and inclusive boy.

Asta Sofie Helland Dahl, 16, Sortland

Teachers described her as a wonderful girl who was "open and cheerful".

Birgitte Smetbak, 15, Noetteroey

- Birgitte was so insanely good at singing and playing guitar. She taught me "Butterfly" on guitar. The first time she sang to me, I got some goodies because it was so beautiful. She was always very positive, honest and tough.

Sondre Furseth Dale, 17, from Haugesund

Sondre was a director of his local Labour Youth group. Had large network of friends through music scene and politics. Described as a dedicated person who put 100% into everything he was interested in.

Modupe Ellen Awoyemi, 15, Drammen

Dupe was a singer in a choir. Daughter of the city council politician Lola Awoyemi. Described as a kind and open girl, who was active in AUF discussions

Sverre Flate Bjoerkavag, 28, from Sula

Union official concerned about justice, equality and community thinking. Described as a well-liked young man who fought for pupils and students' rights. Was training to be a nurse.

Henrik Pedersen, 27, Porsanger

Leader of Porsanger AUF. Described as a "breath of fresh air" in the local community. A Labour colleague said he was very engaged and engaging

Mona Abdinur, 18, Oslo

The committed young politician was described as "a well-loved friend, who was socially engaged and interested in multicultural issues".

Maria Maageroe Johannesen, 17, Noetteroey

Student at Greve Forest High School who was interested in music, dance and drama. Described as a wonderful, conscientious girl who was a "ray of sunshine".

Ismail Haji Ahmed 19 Hamar

Better known as Isma Brown after appearing on a talent show. The dance instructor was described as a "very bubbly, happy, caring and happy boy. He was very positive with a very big heart."

Ronja Soettar Johansen, 17, Vefsn

An active blogger, Ronja had a keen interest in music. Friends said she was "a person with courage, commitment and kindness".

Thomas Margido Antonsen, 16, Oslo

A student council representative. Described by friends as "a boy who spread joy".

Sondre Kjoeren, 17, Orkdal

Described as a gentle but committed person. He was said to have been heavily involved in efforts to get a new sports hall in his village.

Porntip Ardam, 21, Oslo

Known as Pamela. She was described as talented, super-intelligent, politically active and down to earth.

Margrethe Boeyum Kloeven, 16

The student council leader was described as an "active and versatile girl".

Syvert Knudsen, 17, Lyngdal, Vest-Agder county

The student politician is believed to have been one of the first shot on the island. His family described him as a "bubbly" boy with a keen interest in music.

Lene Maria Bergum, 19, Namsos

Her head teacher described her as an excellent, beautiful youth, who was sociable, interested in international issues. She had planned to start a summer job as a journalist.

Anders Kristiansen, 18, Bardu

An active young politician and leader of the AUF in his area. He was said to be "full of initiative" with "a great desire to work in politics".

Kevin Daae Berland, 15, Akoey

Active in Askoey AUF and was involved in local politics as well as being a member of the youth council.

Elisabeth Troennes Lie, 16, Halden

A board member of the Halden AUF. Described as "the sweetest person in the world".

Trond Berntsen, 51, Oevre Eiker

Crown Princess of Norway's step-brother. The royal court said the off-duty police officer was killed while working as a security guard on the island.

Gunnar Linaker, 23, Bardu

Regional secretary of Labour party's youth wing. Father described him as a "calm, big teddy bear with lots of humour and lots of love".

Tamta Lipartelliani, 23, Georgia

Secretary of the international committee of the Young Socialists of Georgia.

Monica Boesei, 45, Hole

PM Jens Stoltenberg said: "To many of us, she was the embodiment of Utoeya. And now she is dead. Shot and killed whilst taking care of and giving joy to young people."

Even Flugstad Malmedal, 18, Gjoevik

The student with an interest in politics was described as "a gentle boy who stood up for his friends".

Carina Borgund, 18, Oslo

Friends and family said she was "kind, caring, gentle and positive. She loved life and spread joy to everyone around her".

Tarald Kuven Mjelde, 18, Osteroey

Said to be a big fan of Chelsea football team and described as "very warm, friendly and socially engaged".

Johannes Buoe, 14, Mandal

"An independent boy with a good sense of humour," his parents told NRK. He was interested in dogs, hunting, snowmobiling and took an active part in the youth community.

Ruth Benedicte Vatndal Nilsen, 15, Toensberg

Described by friends as "always happy, positive, and without prejudice".

Hakon Oedegaard, 17, Trondheim

Music student at Heimdal high school and member of Byasen school marching band. Described as a role model for others in the band.

Emil Okkenhaug, 15, Levanger

A sports lover described as modest and liked by all who knew him.

Monica Iselin Didriksen, 18, Sund

Active in Sund AUF, she was described by friends as a unique and bubbly girl.

Diderik Aamodt Olsen, 19, Nesodden

Vice president of Nesodden AUF. He was the youngest member of editorial staff working on the organisation's magazine.

Gizem Dogan, 17, Trondheim

Described as a clever student who contributed to the cohesion of her class. Elected as central member of local AUF a month before the tragedy.

Andreas Edvardsen, 18, Sarpsborg

Director of Sarpsborg AUF and active in in the Labour youth league regional committee in Oestfold. Described as "a very caring and confident person".

Rolf Christopher Johansen Perreau, 25, Trondheim

Known as Christopher. Long-term member of the AUF and was elected to the board in October. Described as a skilled orator and a charismatic young politician.

Tore Eikeland, 21, Osteroy

PM Jens Stoltenberg described him as "one of our most talented young politicians".

Karar Mustafa Qasim, 19, Vestby

Originally from Iraq, Karar was with friends at summer camp when he was killed. The local mayor described his death as "an enormous tragedy".

Bano Abobakar Rashid, 18, Nesodden

Leader of Nesodden AUF. She was said to have dedicated her life to fighting for democracy and against racism.

Aleksander Aas Eriksen, 16, Meråker

Described as socially-engaged as well as "impulsive and passionate".

Henrik Rasmussen, 18

Treasurer of Hadsel AUF. Said to be a very committed person, both in politics and culture.

Andrine Bakkene Espeland, 16, Fredrikstad

Described as a politically-engaged girl who was keen to take care of the weakest.

Synne Roeyneland, 18, Oslo

A student described by friends as a "funny girl, who always had something to offer: opinions about politics and love and fun and witty comments".

Hanne Balch Fjalestad, 43, Lunner

Danish government confirmed the Danish national was killed while working on the island as a first aid assistant. She was with her 20-year-old daughter, who survived the shooting.

Ida Beathe Rogne, 17, Oestre Toten

A keen student described as happy and funny as well as determined.

Silje Merete Fjellbu, 17, Tinn

Student politician described as a "wonderful girl who had much to contribute".

Simon Saebo, 18, Salangen

The student politician was said to be a natural leader. Those who knew him described him as trusting and kind, and a person who showed great concern for others.

Hanne Kristine Fridtun, 19 Stryn

The nursing student was the local AUF county chairman. Described as energetic with great commitment.

Marianne Sandvik, 16, Hundvag

The student was described as a quiet girl who always stood up for those who needed her. Her father said she was concerned with injustice in the world.

Andreas Dalby Groennesby, 17, Stange

His father had exchanged text messages with him before the shooting. Andrew was a student at the Hamar Cathedral School where he was on the design and craft-line. He visited the Labour Youth League summer camp at Utøya for the first time this year.

Fredrik Lund Schjetne, 18, Eidsvoll

Described by friends as "a great person" whom it was "an honour" to have known.

Snorre Haller, 30, Trondheim

Painter and union man. He was a board member of the Joint Association's Central Youth Committee. Described as a "kind, quiet and generous man".

Lejla Selaci, 17, Fredriksta

Leader of the AUF in Fredrikstad. Described as a "very happy and social girl who committed herself to what she believed in".

Rune Havdal, 43, Oevre Eiker

Worked as a security guard on the island of Utoeya.

Guro Vartdal Havoll, 18, Oersta, Moere og Romsdal

An active and determined politician, the young student's family said she was inspired by Ghandi and wanted to make the world a "better place".

Isabel Victoria Green Sogn, 17, Oslo

An enthusiastic member of the AUF who saw her future involved in politics.

Ingrid Berg Heggelund, 18, As

A student who said she loved going to school.

Silje Stamneshagen, 18, Askoey

Active in Askoey AUF and played in school band. Classmates described her as a happy girl who lit up the school day and every day.

Karin Elena Holst, 15, Rana

A member of the Rana AUF, she spoke to her mother during the shooting. She had urged her daughter to hang up and hide.

Victoria Stenberg, 17, Nes

The oldest of three siblings, she was said to be looking forward to the youth camp.

Eivind Hovden, 15, Tokke

Eivind was involved in his local youth centre and was attending his first summer camp. Described as an "amazing guy, always happy, caring and helpful".

Tina Sukuvara, 18, Vadsoe

Described as "very talented and engaged" and a person who participated actively in political debates.

Jamil Rafal Mohamad Jamil, 20, Eigersund

Originally from Iraq, Jamil was described as happy, attentive and curious with a strong desire to contribute.

Sharidyn Svebakk-Boehn, 14, Drammen

Known as Sissi to friends and family, the schoolgirl was described as a "beautiful, caring and vibrant girl". Her parents said she was the type of girl who got involved in causes, writing letters and voicing her opinion.

Steinar Jessen, 16 Alta

A keen member of the AUF. The mayor of Alta described him as "a flower that would have grown big and strong".

Havard Vederhus, 21, Oslo

Elected leader of Oslo Labour Youth in February. Friends said he was "ambitious and fearless".

Espen Joergensen, 17, Bodoe

Had recently become head of Bodoe AUF. His best friend said he was someone who could "light up the darkest days".

Those we love don't go away, They walk beside us every day, Unseen, unheard, but always near, Still loved, still missed and very dear. May They Rest In Peace

[racingtoaredlight]

On This Day...

On this day in 1978, members of gangster Jimmy “The Gent” Burke’s crew successfully stole $5.8 million in cash and jewelry from the Lufthansa cargo terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport. The infamous “Lufthansa Heist” set a record for the largest cash robbery in the United States at that time. Despite being long suspected of planning and ordering the armed robbery, there was never enough evidence to arrest Burke. Many of the individuals who took part were later killed or simply disappeared. None of the cash or jewelry was ever recovered. 

In order to supply currency exchanges in western Europe, particularly in West Germany where the U.S. military had a large presence, the federal government regularly shipped newly printed American dollars through private cargo carriers. One such carrier was German airline Lufthansa. When the currency arrived at the Lufthansa cargo terminal at JFK, it was stored in a vault within the terminal and behind a sophisticated security system. The combination to the vault was changed daily and only a single security guard on each shift was given the new combination. Port Authority Police were capable of sealing off the entire airport within 90 seconds during a robbery, so stealth and speed would be important to any robbery attempt.

Jimmy Burke learned of the regular presence of large amounts of cash in the Lufthansa terminal from Martin Krugman, a Russia-Jewish wig store and hair salon owner, bookmaker, and gambler. Krugman was told about the cash by Lufthansa cargo employee Louis Werner. Werner owed Krugman $20,000 and he provided in the information in exchange for the potential to have his debt released. Krugman passed along the information to Henry Hill, who was a member of Burke’s crew. Hill and Burke along with Thomas DeSimone were all associates of Paul Vario, a capo or local boss within the Lucchese crime family. Werner, who had secretly stolen $23,000 with another employee in 1976, help Burke plan the robbery, including telling him the best types of cars and vans to use, the nature of the security system, and the number of employees expected to be at the facility. Werner also recommended the use of a “crash car,” to escort the van and crash into any police or security vehicles that attempted to intercept the van as it attempted to leave the airport. The use of a car in this role turned out to be unnecessary.

After Burke pitched the plan to Vario in order to get his blessing, he assembled a team that included his eldest son, Frank and DeSimone.  Of the crew of ten, one was another associate of Burke’s, blues musician and credit-card fraudster Parnell “Stacks” Edwards. Edwards had responsibility for both the first and last steps; he stole the van that would be used in the robbery and was supposed to drop it off at a car compactor in New Jersey afterward. The Gambino family was promised a tribute payment for sanctioning the heist and Gambino soldier Paolo LiCastri was added to Burke’s crew. Vincent Asaro, a Bonanno family capo, was also promised a part of the proceeds because the airport was in Bonanno territory.

At 3:12am on December 11, the Ford Econoline van with Burke’s crew drove up to the Lufthansa cargo terminal. Lufthansa cargo agent Kerry Whalen was immediately accosted and pistol whipped by two members of the crew. Whalen was pulled into the van and his wallet taken with one of Burke’s men saying “We know where you live.” Hearing a commotion, another terminal agent walked down the cargo ramp to investigate. As the agent opened the terminal door, six of the crew, now wearing masks and gloves, forced their way inside and handcuffed him. Using keys provided by Werner, the crew moved through the terminal, opening locked doors. With Whalen and the other agent, Rolf Rebmann in tow, the crew, armed with shotguns now, burst into the small cafeteria, where the remaining Lufthansa employees were on break. All were bound or handcuffed and John Murray, the senior terminal agent, was ordered to call Rudi Eirich on the intercom and ask him to come to the break room. Eirich, the security guard on duty with the vault combination, complied and upon entering the cafeteria was grabbed by two of Burke’s men. Eirich later remarked that the robbers seemed to know the layout of the building perfectly and also seemed to know ahead of time that the two doors leading to the vault could not be open at the same time or the building’s security alarm could go off.

At gunpoint, Eirich walked with two members of the crew towards the vault and opened each door in succession, followed by the vault itself. With his wrists bound behind his back, Eirich watched as the vault was emptied of virtually of its cash and a considerable amount of jewelry. This was moved systematically through the vault’s corridor, with the crew members remembering to close one door before opening the other in order not to trigger the alarm. In all, 40 parcels of cash and jewelry were removed from the vault and placed in the van. By 4:16am, loading was complete and the departing gunmen told the Lufthansa employees not to call Port Authority Police until 4:30. This buffer was added based on the Port Authority police’s response time to previous alarms. At 4:21am, the van and accompanying crash car pulled away from the cargo terminal and left the airport grounds. In 64 minutes, they had stolen $5.875 million in cash and jewels.

After the robbery, the crew met Jimmy Burke at a safehouse in Brooklyn. Burke took the cash with him and went with his son to another safehouse in order to count it. Burke was allegedly expecting there to be only $2 million in the vault and was shocked at having successfully bagged nearly three times that. After leaving the safehouse, all the members of the crew quietly went on their way back to their homes; LiCastri, the Gambino representative, allegedly took the subway home instead of hitching a ride with any of the Lucchese associates. Parnell Edwards made the first mistake of the day. Instead of driving the van out to the scrapyard in New Jersey, he went to a girlfriend’s apartment and spent the day partying before passing out; the van sat outside in a no-parking zone.

The Port Authority immediately sought the assistance of the FBI. Both the local police and the FBI immediately suspected that the robbery was staged by either Burke or John Gotti, who ran a Gambino crew. The van was towed from the no-parking zone the next morning and, after being impounded, was quickly identified as the van connected with the robbery; Edwards’ fingerprints were recovered from the steering wheel and a muddy shoe print at the airport matched Edwards’ shoes. He escaped a police raid on his girlfriend’s apartment but was found shot dead in his own apartment on December 18, exactly one week after the crime. At this point, police focus moved solely to Burke and his crew.

The size of his crew’s haul caught Burke off guard, and this by itself caused unwanted media attention. The failure by Edwards to dispose of the van provided the police and FBI with a direct link between his crew and the robbery. His response, according to Henry Hill, was to panic and immediately seek to silence everyone associated with the robbery. Edwards was only the first casualty of Burke’s fear of being connected with the crime. He stashed the money and jewels in a safe deposit box and give his two daughters the only keys. Martin Krugman, who demanded $500,000 for his role in bringing the plan to Burke, was the next to go. He disappeared January 6, 1979, and his body was never found. According to Henry Hill, Krugman is buried in Robert’s Lounge, a bar near the airport owned by Burke at the time. Over the course of the next six months, Burke, allegedly murdered anyone involved with the robbery, knew of the robbery, or who tried to skim any of the resulting cash Burke tried to launder.

Burke’s murderous spree and the failure of the FBI to attain any credible evidence of his involvement in the Lufthansa Heist, meant that he was never arrested or indicted for that or anything related to the armed robbery. Burke was instead brought down by Henry Hill. After being arrested on a drug charge in 1980, Hill got wind that Burke was planning to kill him order to prevent him from divulging what he knew about Lufthansa to the police; while Hill did not participate in the robbery, he knew all the details of the plan. One month after his arrested, Hill agreed to help the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office, and he went into the Witness Relocation Program. Burke and Paul Vario were convicted of murder charges based on Hill’s testimony. Both died in prison; Vario of respiratory failure in 1988 and Burke of cancer in 1996. Vincent Asario, the Bonanno capo who allowed the robbery to take place in his organization’s territory, was arrested in 2014 in relation to Lufthansa, but was acquitted by a federal jury in November 2015.

[nemossubmarine]

Kill Team Campaign - Missions 5 & 6

Sweep and Clear - Gellerpox Infected vs. The Starstriders The Starstriders were prepared for the Gellerpox attack. They had had a warning, and Elucia managed to join her troops, before the Infected lurched into view. It was a tight-knit formation, they would not be broken.

But, for some reason the Infected were barely interested. There was no recognition, no hatred, they almost walked past the Starstriders, only bothering them when bothered. They finally turned back after some gun-fire. There was very little blood shed, though Aximillion, bravely guarding his masters, got a snout-full of belly-flames, and Knosso was knocked down by two Nightmare Hulks. The Starstriders managed to advance, forcing the Infected back, until they turned and went away. A relief, really, but that left a big question: If not the Starstriders, what were the Infected really after?

Winner: The Starstriders

Heist - Adeptus Mechanicus vs. The Deathpack They didn’t expect the ship to be swarming with Mechanicus. It had appeared quite abandoned when they had spotted it. Just their luck to end up there at the same time as the Mechanicus team.

It was very clear that the Mechanicus were evacuating, so this was the Deathpack’s only chance to get their hands on some probably very important stuff. It had to be important, if the Mechanicus risked their flight by coming back to get it. 

They were outnumbered and in a strange environment, not a very great start to a fight. Snorri and Ivar managed to secure a supply chest, hole up in a room and Snorri even managed to down one of the Skitarii. Unfortunately, the eagle-eyed Mechanicus sniper brought Snorri down, and Ivar had no other hope than to hold on and watch as the Mechanicus gathered all their things amidst exchanging bullets with him.

The others were not much luckier, running into the Mechanicus’ leader and two Sicarians in a rather tight corridor. Only Bear managed to survive that onslaught, though badly wounded. It was time to retreat, and let the Mechanicus clear out.

Winner: Adeptus Mechanicus

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