#royal council creek

[moofy117]

Royal Council AU - Molly’s Pod/Deep in the Neverglade Forest - “Deals and Promises”

[befuddled-calico-whump]

Okay so you don’t have to do this if you don’t want to obvi but can you write a thing for today’s (7/7) figuwhump drawing with Cerus? i’d like that very much 🖤

ooh yes! pairs with this image

Umbra: Cold Spell

cw: environmental whump, cold whump, referenced torture, slight drowning

Penumbra Masterlist

§•§•§

Cerus had never realized how chilling summer could be.

He'd never experienced the so-called cold days. He'd heard of them certainly, but such things took place high in the mountains, in villages the royal family could never be bothered to visit.

The mines he'd been condemned to, however, allowed him to feel the chill firsthand.

A cool morning soon after midsummer wasn't unheard of, even at lower altitudes, but the mountains gave a combination of height and summer storms that led to days where the sun rose on a lightly-frosted wood. Cerus learned quickly that the cold didn't sit well with his poorly-healed bones, and walking and working became so much more difficult than normal. Fortunately, he'd overhead some of the miners talking amongst themselves about how the cooler weather wouldn't last, and that the men should take it as a reprieve from the final heatwave that was to come.

Rather than a reprieve, Cerus viewed it as a prelude. A glimpse of what would befall him in the winter. Mornings spent shivering, sharp pain echoing footsteps, fingers that would hardly bend at all.

But then, he wasn't meant to survive til winter, was he?

That epiphany was made all the sharper when he was dragged out of his bed the eve before seventh day, dragged down a craggy trail, into the trees, not asking where they were taking him, or what he'd done wrong, knowing that knowing the answers wouldn't matter.

They would do what they would do, and they would think themselves righteous.

Cerus didn't struggle or offer protest as he was shoved into the icy waters of a creek, his breath stolen by the freezing temperature as the water struck him. He pushed himself up on arms that shook terribly, only to be forced back into the murk with a boot to the back of his shoulders.

It didn't let up.

Though in his mind, Cerus knew it would be better to drown now, to spare himself from what tomorrow and the next day and the next and the next would bring, the surging human panic that came with a lack of air flooded his senses, driving reason from his body as he thrashed uselessly against the weight of the man who pinned him. Numb fingers sank into soft mud that offered him no purchase, but his stupid body scrambled and fought anyway, his lungs burning white with a lack of air until at last, the pressure let up, and a hand tangled in his hair, yanking him back above the surface.

Back where he could breathe.

And in that moment, nothing else mattered. He sucked down air, not even sparing the miners a wary look as they wrapped his wrists in rope that was thin enough to cut, and pulled his arms wide, immobilizing him knee-deep in the muddy waters.

The feeling of having his arms splayed open was a familiar one, an echo from his time spent prisoner in his own dungeons, tormented by rebels who now dared to call themselves a council, and Cerus shuddered more from the memory than the cold.

He could still feel the crunch of his bones, hear the taunting of the rebel general, the tremor in his voice that had begun that night and never truly gone away.

So when the miners left him there, shaking in the cold mud of the creek, all he could feel was grateful that they hadn't sought to do worse before abandoning him.

No whip came down to meet taut flesh, no fists or sticks or boots to bruise his skin. Only the chill. It lazily drained away the heat that remained within him as the last of the daylight slipped past the surrounding trees.

In the dark, what little portion of Cerus's mind that was unoccupied with the thought of how cold he was listened to the croaking of the creek frogs, a choir that didn't seem to care about the freeze.

After all, it was still summer.

§•§•§

tag list:

@whumpwillow @rabbitdrabbles @kixngiggles @honeycollectswhump @chiswhumpcorner @whatwhumpcomments , @dont-look-me-in-the-eye , @turn-the-tables-on-them , @pigeonwhumps , @itsmyworld23 , @andromeda-liske , @starlit-hopes-and-dreams , @haro-whumps , @kira-the-whump-enthusiast , @whumpedydump , @mannerofwhump

[xstrawmari]

tagged by: @humanbra (thanks 🩷🩷) Rules: Tag 10 people you’d like to get to know better!

Relationship status: single

Favorite colour: green

Song stuck in my head: am i wrong - cinderella soundtrack

Dream trip: scotland

Last googled: city council term limits in mi

Anything I want now: a long vacation

Last song listened to: hard out here by lily allen

Currently watching: new girl (rewatch), jane the virgin (s1)

Currently reading: heartless by marissa meyer & fics

Current obsession: red white & royal blue, bottoms & good girls

10 of your comfort shows: good girls, new girl, schitts creek, superstore, hart of dixie, melissa & joey, the office, prison break, raising hope & crazy ex-girlfriend

tagging: @saraspeaksblog @faceless-inthecrowd @lily-blue-blue-lily (if you want to) & anyone else who sees this and wants to answer

[fearsmagazine]

RUBY GILLMAN, TEENAGE KRAKEN | Trailer & Poster

This summer, DreamWorks Animation dives into the turbulent waters of high school with a hilarious, heartfelt action comedy about a shy teenager who discovers that she’s part of a legendary royal lineage of mythical sea krakens and that her destiny, in the depths of the oceans, is bigger than she ever dreamed.

Sweet, awkward 16-year-old Ruby Gillman (Lana Condor, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before franchise) is desperate to fit in at Oceanside High, but she mostly just feels invisible.

She’s math-tutoring her skater-boy crush (Jaboukie Young-White, Ralph Breaks the Internet), who only seems to admire her for her fractals, and she’s prevented from hanging out with the cool kids at the beach because her over-protective supermom (Oscar® nominee Toni Collette, Knives Out), has forbade Ruby from ever getting in the water.

But when she breaks her mom’s #1 rule, Ruby will discover that she is a direct descendant of the warrior Kraken queens and is destined to inherit the throne from her commanding grandmother (Academy Award® winner Jane Fonda), the Warrior Queen of the Seven Seas.

The Kraken are sworn to protect the oceans of the world against the vain, power-hungry mermaids who have been battling with the Kraken for eons. There’s one major, and immediate, problem with that: The school’s beautiful, popular new girl, Chelsea (Emmy winner Annie Murphy, Schitt’s Creek) just happens to be a mermaid. Ruby will ultimately need to embrace who she is and go big to protect those she loves most.

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken stars an extraordinary cast that includes Emmy winner Colman Domingo (Fear the Walking Dead) as Ruby’s supportive dad, Emmy nominee Sam Richardson (Veep) as Ruby’s enthusiastic uncle and Blue Chapman (Council of Dads) as Ruby’s cool little brother.

Directed by Academy Award® nominated filmmaker Kirk DeMicco (Vivo, The Croods) and produced by Kelly Cooney Cilella (Trolls World Tour, Trolls), with Faryn Pearl (The Croods: A New Age, Trolls World Tour) serving as co-director, the film features a comedic powerhouse supporting cast, including Emmy nominee Will Forte (The Last Man on Earth), Emmy nominee Nicole Byer (Nailed It!), YouTube Diamond creator Liza Koshy (Liza on Demand), Ramona Young (Never Have I Ever), Eduardo Franco (Stranger Things) and Echo Kellum (Arrow).

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 9.6 (before 1940)

394 – Battle of the Frigidus: Roman emperor Theodosius I defeats and kills Eugenius the usurper. His Frankish magister militum Arbogast escapes but commits suicide two days later. 1492 – Christopher Columbus sails from La Gomera in the Canary Islands, his final port of call before crossing the Atlantic Ocean for the first time. 1522 – The Victoria returns to Sanlúcar de Barrameda in Spain, the only surviving ship of Ferdinand Magellan's expedition and the first known ship to circumnavigate the world. 1620 – The Pilgrims sail from Plymouth, England on the Mayflower to settle in North America. (Old Style date; September 16 per New Style date.) 1628 – Puritans settle Salem, which became part of Massachusetts Bay Colony. 1634 – Thirty Years' War: In the Battle of Nördlingen, the Catholic Imperial army defeats Swedish and German Protestant forces. 1781 – American Revolutionary War: The Battle of Groton Heights takes place, resulting in a British victory. 1803 – British scientist John Dalton begins using symbols to represent the atoms of different elements. 1861 – American Civil War: Forces under Union General Ulysses S. Grant bloodlessly capture Paducah, Kentucky, giving the Union control of the Tennessee River's mouth. 1863 – American Civil War: Confederate forces evacuate Battery Wagner and Morris Island in South Carolina. 1870 – Louisa Ann Swain of Laramie, Wyoming becomes the first woman in the United States to cast a vote legally after 1807. 1885 – Eastern Rumelia declares its union with Bulgaria, thus accomplishing Bulgarian unification. 394 – Battle of the Frigidus: Roman emperor Theodosius I defeats and kills Eugenius the usurper. His Frankish magister militum Arbogast escapes but commits suicide two days later. 1492 – Christopher Columbus sails from La Gomera in the Canary Islands, his final port of call before crossing the Atlantic Ocean for the first time. 1522 – The Victoria returns to Sanlúcar de Barrameda in Spain, the only surviving ship of Ferdinand Magellan's expedition and the first known ship to circumnavigate the world. 1620 – The Pilgrims sail from Plymouth, England on the Mayflower to settle in North America. (Old Style date; September 16 per New Style date.) 1628 – Puritans settle Salem, which became part of Massachusetts Bay Colony. 1634 – Thirty Years' War: In the Battle of Nördlingen, the Catholic Imperial army defeats Swedish and German Protestant forces. 1781 – American Revolutionary War: The Battle of Groton Heights takes place, resulting in a British victory. 1803 – British scientist John Dalton begins using symbols to represent the atoms of different elements. 1861 – American Civil War: Forces under Union General Ulysses S. Grant bloodlessly capture Paducah, Kentucky, giving the Union control of the Tennessee River's mouth. 1863 – American Civil War: Confederate forces evacuate Battery Wagner and Morris Island in South Carolina. 1870 – Louisa Ann Swain of Laramie, Wyoming becomes the first woman in the United States to cast a vote legally after 1807. 1885 – Eastern Rumelia declares its union with Bulgaria, thus accomplishing Bulgarian unification. 1901 – Leon Czolgosz, an unemployed anarchist, shoots and fatally wounds US President William McKinley at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. 1914 – World War I: The First Battle of the Marne, which would halt the Imperial German Army's advance into France, begins. 1915 – World War I: The first tank prototype, developed by William Foster & Co. for the British army, was completed and given its first test drive. 1930 – Democratically elected Argentine president Hipólito Yrigoyen is deposed in a military coup. 1936 – Spanish Civil War: The Interprovincial Council of Asturias and León is established. 1939 – World War II: The British Royal Air Force suffers its first fighter pilot casualty of the Second World War at the Battle of Barking Creek as a result of friendly fire. 1939 – World War II: Union of South Africa declares war on Germany.

[keithsawdy-arch]

Keith Sawdy

Architect

Keith Sawdy Fellow Royal Australian Institute of Architects Honours Diploma in Architecture, Sydney Technical College Master of Architecture, University of New South Wales Date of birth: 24 June, 1930. Current address: Arncliffe. N.S.W. 2205

GENERAL EXPERIENCE: Employed by Architects in Private Practice during Diploma Course in Architecture Awarded Byera Hadley Travelling Scholarship by Board of Architects 1955 – 1957 Overseas travel to Great Britain and European Countries and work in Architect’s Office in London. Lectured in Design and Construction in School of Architecture, University of NSW to 1970 Obtained Degree, Master of Architecture, 1970 ACROD Design for Access and Mobility Award ACROD President’s Service Award in recognition of outstanding honorary service to disabled people in New South Wales City of Sydney Australia Day Community Award for access for people with disabilities Port Stephen’s Council Certificate of Appreciation for Tanilba Bay Hostel Project Standards Australia: Member of Committee – Facilities in Lifts for People with Disabilities Member/Chairperson of Committees – AS 1428 Access for People with Disabilities Honorary Architect, Member Management Committee Australian Inland Mission and Frontiers Services, Uniting Church in Australia Member/Chairperson ACROD NSW Access Committee Member ACROD National Access Committee on Transportation for the Disabled Member Ministers Joint Committee on Transportation for the Disabled. Member NSW Council on the Aging Building Advisory Committee Study Tour of Aged Care Facilities in Queensland, with Architects from NSW, Queensland, Victoria and WA involved with Churches of Christ Work Conference Aged Care American Health Care Association, Nashville, USA Conference American Association of Homes and Servies for the Ageing, Los Angeles, USA Private Practice Sawdy and Black Pty Ltd. Architects 1971 to 2010

Publications: Architecture in Australia Member of Committee for early publications History of Architecture in New South Wales Part 1 All buildings with drawings Part 2 Overseas examples of latest trends Department of Prisons – Article on History of Prison Architecture in Australia

Aged Care Projects Nursing Homes 60 bed home for Harbourside Haven Village at Shoal Bay, NSW
31 bed home for Northern Coalfields Community Care Association at Cessnock NSW
20 bed extension for the Castellorizian Society at Kensington NSW
60 bed home for the Churches of Christ at Maitland NSW
80 bed home for The Uniting Church and Marco Polo Association at Unanderra NSW
40 bed home for the Uniting Church at Springwood
Redevelopment of existing home for the Little Sisters of China at Peakhurst NSW
Redevelopment of Old Timers for the Uniting Church at Alice Springs NT
Nursing home and Hostel for the Uniting Church at Tennant Creek NSW
130 bed redevelopment for Our Lady of Consolation Homes at Rooty Hill NSW
50 bed home for Christian Brethren Community Services Pty Ltd at Cherrybrook NSW
10 bed extension and alterations for Scone District Nursing Home at Scone NSW
34 bed home for Thomas Holt Memorial Village at Sutherland NSW
 Hostels 41 bed hostel for Harbourside Haven Village at Shoal Bay NSW
30 bed hostel for Northern Coalfields Community Care Association at Cessnock NSW
32 bed hostel for Northern Coalfields Community Care Association at Cessnock NSW
30 bed hostel for The Royal Blind Society at Beverly Hills NSW
40 bed hostel for the G.U.O.O.F. at Toongabbie NSW
30 bed hostel for The Thomas Holt Memorial Village at Sutherland NSW
40 bed hostel for Port Stephens Council at Tanilba Bay NSW
50 bed hostel for Churches of Christ at Maitland NSW
40 bed hostel for Churches of Christ at Albury NSW
40 bed hostel for Churches of Christ at Pendle Hill NSW
40 bed hostel for Churches of Christ at Nowra NSW
40 bed hostel for Uniting Church at Unanderra NSW
26 bed hostel for Uniting Church at Springwood NSW
40 bed hostel for Uniting Church at Marrickville NSW
66 bed hostel for Our Lady of Consolation Homes at Rooty Hill NSW
40 bed hostel for Woy Woy Community Aged Care Ltd at Woy Woy NSW
10 bed extension for Presbyterian Church at Gosford NSW
17 bed hostel for Thomas Holt Memorial Village at Sutherland NSW
40 bed hostel and units at Thirroul NSW
Hostel extension and Day Care for Presbyterian Church, Stockton NSW


Self Care Villas 52 villas for Harbourside Haven Village at Fingal Bay NSW
20 villas for Thomas Holt Memorial Village Sutherland NSW
80 villas for Churches of Christ at Maitland NSW
80 villas for Churches of Christ at Pendle Hill NSW
12 villas for Presbyterian Church at Bowral NSW
54 villas for Uniting Church at Unanderra NSW
8 villas for Northern Coalfields Community Care at Cessnock NSW
40 villas for Harbourside Haven Village at Fingal Bay NSW
Aged Care Units for Presbyterian Church, Bowral NSW

Community Centres Indoor Pool, Recreation and Community Centre for Harbourside Haven Village at Shoal Bay NSW
Indoor Pool, Recreation and Community Centre for Harbourside Haven Village at Fingal Bay NSW

Nursing Home Upgrading and Additions Uniting Church Tennant Creek NT
Cessnock House for Northern Coalfields Community Care Association at Cessnock NSW
Pendle Hill Village Nursing Home for Churches of Christ
Woodlands Nursing Home for Churches of Christ at Cherrybrook NSW
Wynleigh Nursing Home at Strathfield NSW
Bass Hill Nursing Home
Windermere Nursing Home at Summer Hill NSW
Pendle Hill Nursing Home at Pendle Hill NSW
Hume Nursing Home at Greenacre NSW
Kaloola Nursing Home at Granville NSW
Pittwater Nursing Home at Pittwater NSW
Gardenview Nursing Home at Merrylands NSW 
Health Care Projects

Quirindi (Public) Hospital – New Wards, Kitchen refurbishment and support services Poplars Community Hospital – New Ward Block and refurbishment of existing Hospital Day Surgery Theatre and Recovery Area St. Edmunds Private Hospital – New Ward Block and general refurbishment of existing Hospital Frontier Services, Uniting Church – Outpost hospital upgrades in various States and projects for aboriginal people
Health clinic at Finke NT
Health clinic at Mintabie SA

Community Buildings Churches of Christ – Conference Centre at Stanwell Tops NSW Sydney City Mission – Refurbishment of Hostel for homeless men at Surry Hills
 Various Mission Employment Projects in Sydney Scots School – New Dormitory building at Bathurst NSW

Church Buildings Churches of Christ – Rockdale, Auburn, Turramurra, Mayfield, Green Hills, Wollongong
 Additions to Epping Church Baptist Church – Additions to Epping Church
 Major redevelopment at Gordon Anglican Church – Churches at Minto, St Johns Park, Cranebrook and Eaglevale
 Parish Centres at Carlingford and Dural
 Commercial Buildings Davids Holding / Campbells Cash and Carry
Warehouse and Warehouse extension at Coffs Harbour NSW
Major Coolroom extension at Hexham NSW
Cash and Carry Warehouse at Richmond VIC
Cash and Carry Warehouse extension at Bendigo VIC
Cash and Carry Warehouse extension at Tamworth NSW
Distribution Warehouse extension at Loganlea QLD
Major Coolroom extension at Silverwater NSW NGR International
Office building at Arncliffe Presbyterian Church
Office Building, Surry Hills, Sydney NSW Newmans Rockdale
Car Showroom and Service Centre
 Cultural Projects Forrest Community Centre and Glen Street Theatre at Frenchs Forest NSW
380 seat raked floor auditorium and fully equipped professional theatre and 8 court squash and fitness centre for Warringah Council Griffith Regional Theatre at Griffith NSW
500 seat raked floor auditorium and fully equipped theatre with provision for future Art Gallery / Library for Griffith City Council

Manning Entertainment Centre at Taree NSW
500 seat raked floor auditorium and fully equipped theatre with downstage flying facility, designed for future fly tower with double-purchase lines for Greater Taree City Council Marian Street Theatre at Killara NSW
Refurbishment and total air conditioning for Kuring-gai Council Theatre and Multi-Purpose Centre at Salamander NSW
Design work for enhancement of buildings in Department of Public Works and Services Education Centre and drafting management agreement for Port Stephens Council

Government BuildingsThe Royal Australian Mint Building in Canberra ACT The Sydney Mail Handling Building and Landscape Work in Cleveland Street, Sydney NSW The Transport Depot in Cleveland Street, Sydney NSW The Court House at Coonabarabran NSW

Church of Christ Rockdale 1959

Private home Albert Dr Killara 1968

[masqsims4]

Royal News Roundup

As the ninth generation becomes old enough for their first day of school, and the world waits with baited, paranoid breath for the next Mother Plant Invasion, we now turn to the world's royal families for hope and distractons.

Willow Creek

The Royal Summit to meet over world events and discuss future policies just ended. It was determined that a new kingdom and royal family would not be realized unless it was owned for three generations. Which means that the new Henford Kingdom and New Windenburg would not be recognized by the Council of Kings, until the grandchildren of King Blair Yoshikawa and King Kolt Seindu V can prove ownership of their respective lands.

Another policy discussed was potential heirs and the process of officially naming them publicly in succession. This policy was drafted by Vengeance Ando Strangreix, who famously was put into a foster home known for erasing royal titles upon enrollment when he was a young child. This was also to curb the now constant stream of royal children coming from New Sixam Empire constantly being named the new heir upon birth.

Upon conclusion of the summit, each ruler publicly declared an heir to the throne and rate of succession for other children:

Braieforma Alliance: Crown Prince Caden Braieforma, first born of King Samson and Queen Samantha Braieforma

New Sixam Empire: Crown Prince Kolt Seindu "Jericho" Beerloith VI, seventh born child to King Kolt Seindu "Caesar" Beerloith V, and fourth born to his second wife Queen-herald Aragonta Faltal-Beerloith.

Seindu Kingdom: Crown Princess Winter Seindu II, second born to King Ari Seindu and King Mamoru Yamaguchi-Seindu

WhiteTree Coven: High Apprentice Celestine WhiteTree, only child of late High Witch Samara WhiteTree

Eighth Bastion: Countess Athena Lamia, only child of Grand Count Nicolai Lami and Grand Countess Fuyuko Kiraseindu

Komorebi Empire: First Prince Ohara Yoshi, first born child of Empress Ohara Nadeshiko and Emperor-consort Kiraseindu Isamu

Tartosa Duchy: Archduchess Minervina Vakki, first born daughter of Duke Coriolano Vakki and Duchess Cleo Aoki-Faltal-Vakki

Maximus Corp: Granville Maximus, first born son of CEO Clementia Bongrin-Strangreix-Maximus and COO Xzav Maximus

Faltal Industries: Tarquin Faltal Uchibayashi, fifth born son of CEO Balor Faltal and first born son to one of his two mistresses, Veloronia Uchibayashi

Strangreix Syndicated States: Vindi-retribute Petra Strangreix, first born daughter of Vengeance Ando Strangriex and Vindicate Aarom Fid-Drodhoth-Strangreix

Strangerville Military State votes on the next Ruling General based on military school performance, combat skills, and leadership capabilities, and has declined to name a next in line

The position of Head of Entertainment has been officially disbanded, leaving a free market of possible entertainment moguls in Del Sol Valley

The Island Divine of Sulani were not recognized as a ruling power, nor were any representatives present at the summit

Another royal summit would be called after the next Invasion to discuss other matters that came up within the meeting.

Syndiated States of Strangreix

Vengeance Ando Strangreix has not only cemented his Blinddeaf daughter as next in line, but has also proposed dismantling the current royal titles as the age of revenge is long left behind in the Strangreix royal family. The changes will begin with the rule of Vindi-retribute Petra Strangreix, and the family would privately convene and vote on the best titles to use.

Within the next generation, the Syndicated States of Strangreix would be changed to the Strangreix Republic.

The public is giving mixed reactions, with some agreeing to leave the past in the past and the country could benefit from change. While other opposed are very used to the system and titles as they are, having been used for generations despite no longer respecting their origins.

Eighth Bastion

As the Lamia family have announced their heir to the Bastion, they have also announced the arranged marriage of their little countess.

When they are grown, Countess Athenia Lamia will be wed to Barnabus Thornwing, son to the royal advisor, Hesparia Thorne.

The news has been met with positive reception, as not only is there a clear line of succession to the throne but old traditions of combining last names to children have resurfaced after more than a thousand years.

Sulani

The people of Sulani are slowly gaining back their islands from the Island Divine as the infamous cult begins to crumble from the inside. Many members are fleeing the cult mansion to distant islands, seeking refuge where they can. Only the most outspoken or those born into the cult have opted to stay. The current leader of the Island Divine, Divine Kiraseindu Megumi, has been increasingly hostile against those outside the cult speaking about it, positively or negatively. There are talks with local conservation groups looking to take back the McClure-Hidu Conservation Society and keep it from cult control. Talks are currently underway.

Meanwhile, on Lani St. Taz, a new and popular resort has started to buy up land and give proceeds back to Sulani locals. The resort, Sapphire Shores Resort & Spa, was situated far enough away from Divine lodging and meeting spaces and has been slowly encroaching onto other islands for several years now. The owner of the resort, Princess Narni Strangreix, has been very vocal against the Island Divine and has offered lodging and safety to those wishing to flee and leave. Many other activists who are against the Divine have backed up her cause, and many prominent members, including influential mermaid leader, Kishi McClure, have left the cult.

Despite the many setbacks the cult is facing, the vocal minority of the Divine have promised that they are not going away, that their core values are to the preservation of Sulani's nature and fragile ecosystem, and will defend themselves while defending their home.

Britechester

The moment the Strangerville Armed Forces declared the foundation of Britechester stable and safe to return to, reconstruction of the two prominent universities has begun. Overseen by educational entrepreneur Garrett Ircids, the universities will also be adding their own virtual classrooms to campus for those who do not wish to set foot on campus.

Ircids has also invited many professors and teachers from around the world to back the two universities and provide the world with the higher education they missed out on for a full generation. Many high schools around the world had created their own virtual academies to provide higher education, and some places starting smaller local colleges of their own, but the allure of a prestigious school is too hard to ignore. The first round of students have already signed up and are ready to earn their degrees and make a place in the world again.

Strangerville

Ruling General Phoenix Hakzar held a press conference confirming that the new wave of vaccines has been the strongest so far against Mother Plant Infection, and has dismissed claims that the vaccines are causing some to turn into plant people. They strongly urge others to do their proper research and make informed decisions going foreword.

On the subject of Infected, Ruling General Hakzar has also mentioned a successful treatment clinic on one of Sulani's distant islands. They urge anyone deemed Infected to be shipped to said clinic immediately for treatment.

They also mention that research into the Mother Plant has been going well and soon there should be mention of a Permanent Solution. They regret to mention that this Solution will not be ready when the Mother Plant reemerges, but it has always been defeated and with each defeat comes new information and advancements, bringing the world one step closer to ridding the planet of the Mother Plant once and for all.

Glimmerbrook

The former High Witch Rhomani WhiteTree, and her wife, the High Witch regent Yuna Okada, not only formally announced the heir to the WhiteTree Coven, but also announced the birth of their daughter, Amari.

They also announced changes to membership of the coven due to wavering loyalties. With some deciding to become "royal wizards" to other royal families, the White Tree decreed that those who leave the coven are not welcomed back. This move had been highly controversial, creating some splits between the born family of the White Tree and those who had joined over the years.

The White Tree had also announced a strong separation between themselves and a member called Imari Xesuvixes. Xesuvixes had been a long participating member of the coven, with constant research into magic and other occults, but had a reputation of being eccentric, promiscuous, and neglectful as a friend and mother. She also was an anarchist, anti-monarchist, and radical movement leader, calling for all the world's royalty to disband and give the earth back to the people. Because of her harsh criticisms, the coven revoked her membership and many around the world have dismissed her as an unnecessarily loud voice screaming into the void.

New Windenburg/New Sixam Empire

With the Windenburg Divide, many people had taken sides and in-fighting has started to happen. Among these divides were the laws that the new King Kolt Seindu V put on his kingdom of New Windenburg. Bigamy was no longer allowed, all households were to have one spouse in his rule. And the heirs to his kingdom could be any gender, as long as they were the first born in their family, ending the generations of King Kolts on his side of the family. That being said, despite not being recognized by the Council of Kings, he named his only son, Prince Kolt Seindu VI, as his heir to his kingdom. The people of New Windenburg are very passionate about their new King and are eager to see change and common sense in this new era.

However, the New Sixam Empire has become isolated on the Crumbling Isle, and those who noticed King Kolt "Caesar" Seindu-Beerloith V using his power to abuse those below him. The people of New Sixam are clinging to their only known ways of life of isolation and luxury, denouncing those who decided to leave for the "weaker" kingdom. But those who did not agree with New Sixam at all have fled the island for greener pastures, leaving mostly members of the royal family and their very loyal staff and followers.

King Kolt "Caesar" Seindu-Beerloith V also had his third wedding recently to former White Tree witch Edassaem Payne, making her Queen-herald of the New Sixam Empire and his third wife. She has also become the new royal wizard of the New Sixam Empire, promising to keep the island and its inhabitants safe.

Selvadorada

The jungle nation continues to recover after the last Mother Plant Invasion destroyed much of the natural habitat and the old Omiscan temple. Many families were displaced and remote villages were either destroyed or deemed too unsafe to return to.

Like many after an invasion, some have decided to move further inland and form a home somewhere the Mother Plant can't put her roots. Vista Hermosa, an old settlement of five hundred people quickly found itself the place where Selvadoradans put down their own roots and quickly started to build larger settlements to accommodate. The Seindu Kingdom offered to help with setting up the area with the latest technology and sound architectural design to make the small town a bustling city for all to flock to.

The new city in Selvadorada is quickly becoming a place to bump elbows romantically and find what the heart wants. The locals have started to call the new city paradise, Ciudad Enamorada, the City of Love.

[usmaradiomagazine]

🔴 ON AIR - Today Tuesday 9 May 2023 at 7:00 pm (CEST) - usmaradio.org USMA for Radioart106 #𝟭𝟯𝟵_𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗶𝗹 𝗯𝘆 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽 & 𝗔𝗰𝗼𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘀 [60 min] Reveil is a project, initiated and produced by Soundcamp and the Acoustic Commons network. It tracks the sounds of sunrise from travelling West on live audio feeds from streamers around the world. It tunes to the sounds of weather, machines, migrating birds, air traffic and more - creating a collective soundwork lasting one earth day.

This show is a rebroadcast of Reveil 8 from 2021, to highlight the 10th edition of the project which will take place from 5AM London time on Saturday 6 MAY to 6AM on Sunday 7 MAY 2023. radioart106 will stream from the port of Haifa, in collaboration with Ithaca music, Mezo gallery and Radio Rikavon, in Palestine, Israel.

We will stream nonstop (UTC+3) in parallel to the main (global) stream. Mezo will be open to public during the entire loop as a listening space, and Radio Rikavon will relay the main stream.

This show is Introduced by the Acoustic Commons network members/project producers Grant Smith, Maria Papadomanolaki and Dawn Scarfe. For complete information visit: https://soundtent.org/soundcamp_reveil.html

Supported by Arts Council England and the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.

Streams: Pomègue, Frioul Archipelago By Locus Sonus and the Parc National des Calanques Stave Hill Ecological Park, London By Michael Speers and Public Works Puerto del Carmen, Canary Islands By Lanzarote Webcam Surface Creek Road, Cedaredge, Colorado By John Hopkins Batuco Wetlands, Chile By Cristián Pinto Hydrophones at Bush Point and Port Townsend, Puget Sound off Seattle By Orcasound.net Maroochy River, Sunshine Coast, Queensland By Leah Barclay (Biosphere Soundscapes) and Arts Front Northern Royal Albatross nestcam, Taiaroa Head Nature Reserve, Otago Peninsula, New Zealand By the Cornell Laboratory for Ornithology Closeup birds in lofi, gyeonggi province, Korea feeder cam Chittaranjan Colony, Kolkata By Sukanta Majumdar Varessaare forest hut, Alutaguse National Park, Estonia By John Grzinich, Taavi Suisalu and Veljo Runnel MBARI deep sea cabled observatory hydrophone, Monterey Bay, California By Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute

https://soundtent.org/soundcamp_reveil.html https://www.rikavon.co.il >>  Radioart106 explores radiophonic works of worldwide radio artists. Radio art is a subset of Sound art where radio art is produced for the medium of radio and is specifically intended for broadcast. A new radio work is aired every first (or second) Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm CET on usmaradio.org

[thecastingcircle]

RUBY GILLMAN, TEENAGE KRAKEN | Official Trailer

Sometimes the hero you are meant to be lies just beneath the surface.

This summer, DreamWorks Animation dives into the turbulent waters of high school with a hilarious, heartfelt action comedy about a shy teenager who discovers that she’s part of a legendary royal lineage of mythical sea krakens and that her destiny, in the depths of the oceans, is bigger than she ever dreamed. Sweet, awkward 16-year-old Ruby Gillman (Lana Condor, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before franchise) is desperate to fit in at Oceanside High, but she mostly just feels invisible. She’s math-tutoring her skater-boy crush (Jaboukie Young-White, Ralph Breaks the Internet), who only seems to admire her for her fractals, and she’s prevented from hanging out with the cool kids at the beach because her over-protective supermom (Oscar® nominee Toni Collette, Knives Out), has forbade Ruby from ever getting in the water. 

 But when she breaks her mom’s #1 rule, Ruby will discover that she is a direct descendant of the warrior Kraken queens and is destined to inherit the throne from her commanding grandmother (Academy Award® winner Jane Fonda), the Warrior Queen of the Seven Seas. The Kraken are sworn to protect the oceans of the world against the vain, power-hungry mermaids who have been battling with the Kraken for eons. 

There’s one major, and immediate, problem with that: The school’s beautiful, popular new girl, Chelsea (Emmy winner Annie Murphy, Schitt’s Creek) just happens to be a mermaid. Ruby will ultimately need to embrace who she is and go big to protect those she loves most. Ruby Gillman, 

Teenage Kraken stars an extraordinary cast that includes Emmy winner Colman Domingo (Fear the Walking Dead) as Ruby’s supportive dad, Emmy nominee Sam Richardson (Veep) as Ruby’s enthusiastic uncle and Blue Chapman (Council of Dads) as Ruby’s cool little brother. 

Directed by Academy Award® nominated filmmaker Kirk DeMicco (Vivo, The Croods) and produced by Kelly Cooney Cilella (Trolls World Tour, Trolls), with Faryn Pearl (The Croods: A New Age, Trolls World Tour) serving as co-director, the film features a comedic powerhouse supporting cast, including Emmy nominee Will Forte (The Last Man on Earth), Emmy nominee Nicole Byer (Nailed It!), YouTube Diamond creator Liza Koshy (Liza on Demand), Ramona Young (Never Have I Ever), Eduardo Franc

[diabolicallittledemi]

Broppy Medival Royalty AU

(idk what to call the kingdom they have so we'll call it Trollstopia, sorry I haven't seen the show yet 😓)

King Peppy is the current ruler of Trollstopia. The crown princess is Viva, and Poppy is the princess. Creek is a noble (as are the rest of the Snack Pack, save for Cooper, who is a prince studying in Trollstopia) whose family has been loyal to the monarchy for generatios and has served on the council for just as long. He is very familar with everyone in the castle, from the political men at the king's right hand to the women working the kitchen... making him very respected and loved by all.

Branch is a knight and, while they don't have the status of nobles, his are respectable people. JD would also be a knight, Floyd is a traveling bard, Bruce runs a tavern with Brandy, and Clay is an educator who studied his way into being in the royal staff, becoming an advisor/politican of sorts...

He also manages to court his way into Crown Princess Viva's heart, and with time, they get engaged, making him a prince of Trollstopia, and the future King of its people. Together they are smart, good with the people, and make an excellent duo, showing they will make excellent rulers. Immediately after they get married, they go off to their honeymoon, traveling some ways away.

Around the same time, Poppy's childhood crush Creek shows interest and they begin courting; nearing Viva's wedding, they get engaged, but due to Viva's wedding happening soon, theirs won't happen until some time after.

A week or so after Viva and Clay leave for their honeymoon, Trollstopia receives word that the princess and her husband are missing, sending them into a frenzy. Foulplay could have occurred, tho it could have very well been an accident. King Peppy immediately sends out his best men (JD included) to search for his daughter. Alongside this, he increases security in the castle, assigning a personal guard to his secondborn: Branch. Branch, for his young age, has risen in rank fairly quickly. His brother being a well-known and well respected knight helped, but Branch is a valiant warrior dedicated to the safety of his people.

Poppy tries her best to be optimistic, trying to remain confident that Viva is alive and well; Creek also tries to remain confident that Viva is alive as well, and supports her, much to Poppy's relief. But her aggravation shines through with a personal guard trailing her around all day. It's hard to ignore the reality when a reminder is always 5 steps behind you. And he's not making it any better by him shutting down any attempt she has at least making friends with him. Sir Branch has to remain professional, and refuses to entertain anything more than that.

Things start to slip when King Peppy falls ill. He is already old for a king, and age and stress are starting to weigh on him, and he starts to slip, weak and tired most of the time. It's only a matter of time before he is bedridden. The search for Viva continues, and people are beginning to lose hope, even Creek, who has been Poppy's rock (mostly) through all of this. He begins to get more snappy than usual (he's always been pushy at times, but that's normal for a partner, isn't it?) Creek urges for their wedding to happen now, and he is getting antsy. "If something were to happen, I'd want the reassurance we would be facing it together, as man and wife."

With Viva gone and her father falling ill, Poppy is facing the reality that she may have to step up as Acting Queen, either until one of her family members can fill the role, or she takes it on permanently. She is beginning to fall; of course, growing up, this was always a possibility. However, she wasn't expecting it now. She would make a great queen, as she is assured by her friends, though she has doubts.

Branch becomes her rock.

He slips up at one point, and shares a conspiracy with her: he believes Viva and Clay's disappearance was an attack, not by a foreign country, but by someone from their own kingdom. Poppy doesn't believe this at first, thinking he's some crazy conspiracy theorist; though she soon learns Clay is his brother. Of course he cares. Of course he'd take this seriously. Of course he'd want to know what actually happened, not to bring peace to the kingdom, but to find his brother safe. Not only that, but he is recieving letters from JD regularly detailing new clues they've discovered (there is proof someone tried to cover up an accient, and word of mysterious figures in the area where they were last seen. questions are raised about the true loyalty of the king's men, whispers of support for him waining...) Branch. believes they are both safe, out there surviving together somewhere; unlike Creek, he is utterly sincere, and for the first time, Poppy begins to fully believe it. "If they were dead, we'd have found them by now. Theyre on the move, hiding from someone hunting them down; but they're smart, and they'll make it out."

They get closer, he opens up some, and their relationship becomes a little less than professional...

Creek is getting more antsy. "The wedding must be soon," he urges, "We must be united, for the kingdom," he claims, and it becoming too suffocating to Poppy. He wants to be with her more, but the once fluttery feeling in her stomach has turned to sickness as he becomes controlling of her. His clingyness bothers her more than Branch's presence did when he first started guarding her. Where was the love? To her, it seemed it was starting to vanish.

Weeks pass and Viva and Clay are still no where to be found. Creek is too much, and Branch is just enough. An engagement isn't solid, is it? They can always bail. She doesn't have to marry him, it isn't set in stone until she says "I do"...

King Peppy is now too ill to serve, and is bedridden, leaving Poppy the official Acting Queen. Branch stays by her side, but she has no time for her fiance anymore. She considers formally breaking off her engagement to focus on her father and kingdom.

"It's just for a bit, until I can figure out everything," she lies.

Creek is not happy. He yells, he begs, he drops his head and sighs.

"This isn't how it was supposed to happen..."

does anyone wanna hear about my creek×poppy appearing medival/royalty au that's ACTUALLY a broppy au where poppy and viva are royalty and branch is a knight and viva goes missing during her honeymoon and Poppy has to step up as her father falls ill and branch suspects there's something sinister going on underneath everything...

[moofy117]

Royal Council AU - Deep in the Neverglade Forest - “A new friend…”

Malone runs into a new face in the woods after allowing John Dory and Branch to stay in their bunker…

[bigfrozenfan-fanfics]

Chapter 08 - The secret

Links: Chapter overview, Character list, Map, Glossar Rating: M over all Publishing cycle: each Friday on (link)

Remarks: all my chapters contain carefully selected music tracks. It’s your own decision if you want to use them or not while reading. The purpose is to musically support the respective mood of the plot. If you can please use a browser for reading (not the Tumblr app) due to the text formatting.

It was just before dawn when Mattias rode off to meet his companions. There was hardly anyone on the streets and he greeted friendly when he came past someone. After he passed the last house and took the path to the upper rock gate, he saw in the distance a vehicle with a canvas-covered body standing at the side of the road. When his companions noticed him, they waved at him.

When he reached them, he did not dismount but bent down and gave each of them a hand as a greeting. Both wore unobtrusive civil clothing.

“Good morning Trygve, good morning Kristina,” he said, sat up again and put both hands on top of each other on the pommel. “Ready for another trip to the Enchanted Forest?” he asked jokingly.

Trygve pulled a face, “Not really. It cost me almost my whole life.”

Kristina agreed and said, “Yes, I feel the same way. But you know, General Mattias, that we will always stand by your side faithfully. I hope we'll be away from there as soon as possible and I can enjoy my retirement on my little houseboat. The fjord is always better than that dreadful forest.”

Mattias nodded seriously, “I can understand that very well and I'm thankful for your willing to help me on this, hopefully very short mission, to get Elsa back to Arendelle incognito. I also want to return to Arendelle as soon as possible, to my dearest Halima. How have you been doing since you came back? We haven't had much of a chance to talk about it.”

“Well, I am back with my family and we are all doing very well. The financial support from the royal family, respectively from Queen Anna, has helped us all a lot and it makes life more comfortable,” answered Trygve.

Kristina looked far less satisfied and hesitated for a moment before speaking. “Unfortunately I have no one else. My relatives died three and four years ago. I visited their grave only last week. But I have made new friends and we do a lot together. I was also able to buy a houseboat and a small sloop with my severance pay. I sail out with it very often on the fjord.” After a little while, she added, “Over all, I'm doing quite well and I can be happy to spend my retirement in Arendelle this way.”

“I'm happy for you,” said Mattias and smiled, but then, turning to Kristina with a sad expression on his face, he added, “I'm sorry for you, Kristina, that you were not able to see your relatives again. My deepest condolences.”

She nodded sadly, "Thank you."

Trygve had looked at her with concern during her narration and now put a hand on her shoulder. “Sorry for you, Kristina, I didn't know.” They looked at each other. “Let's do something together when we get back ... and hey, if you don't mind I'd like to go for a sail on your sloop with you. I'll bring the food too.”

She laughed and nodded. “I'd love to, Trygve.” But then they both lapsed into thoughtful silence.

“All right, folks, the sun's coming up over the horizon. We should slowly set off,” Mattias interrupted their thoughts and took the reins in his hand.

The two nodded and got on the wagon side by side. Trygve had the draught horse trotted, Mattias rode after them. When they had passed the rock gate, Mattias looked back. The first sunrays had already reached the upper part of the castle and bathed the top in a warm light.

~~~

It was of course Olaf who was the first to notice that something was different than usual. While Kristoff and Anna were still enjoying their togetherness in bed, he had already gone outside in the early morning hours and looked around the camp. Since he had been able to read and write, had read all the books he found in the castle for the last two years, and was now even a regular guest in the Arendelle library, he had developed a new view of the world around him. He was curious and liked to combine contexts that no one else saw as he did. Where others took many things for granted, he questioned everything and was the only one who noticed that the Northuldra camp was unusually empty this morning. Apart from women and children, not a single one of the men was to be seen.

“Tell me, guys, isn't it curious that there are barely any men around the camp today? All I see are some women and their little ones.”

Anna and Kristoff sat together with him still a bit sleepy at the fireplace and looked now first at him, but then also peered around surprised.

“You are right, Olaf,” Anna said and raised her eyebrows. “Where did they all go?”

“Maybe they have heavy work to do and need all the strong men for it?” Kristoff surmised and shrugged his shoulders.

“Or maybe they are doing what they often do in Arendelle Castle in the morning when one of those council meetings is taking place,” Olaf replied. Anna and Kristoff looked at him in amazement.

“Might well be,” Anna pondered and nodded thoughtfully, but what could be so important and why didn't they tell me about it; she asked herself. It certainly has something to do with Elsa, but I am her sister and Queen of Arendelle after all, so I should also be informed about everything that concerns her. She made a thoughtful face.

“Let’s gonna find it out,” Kristoff said and stood up. Then he went straight to the next Northuldra woman who was repairing the tunic of one of her children. “Excuse me, but we were just wondering where all your men went. It's so empty in the camp today.”

“They have important things to do today,” she said with a smile and returned to her work. Kristoff turned to Anna, pursed his lips and, with his shoulders raised, spread his arms wide to communicate the disappointing answer.

Anna frowned and now also stood up to ask the next woman the same question. She headed for a young woman who was cutting vegetables for the morning soup in front of her kota. But Anna did not receive a satisfactory answer either, as her expression indicated, when she turned around again and looked at her companions helplessly.

Shaking her head, she went back. “I guess we won't get an answer from anyone else either, by the looks of it.” They both sat down again and looked at one another questioningly.

What have they got to hide; Anna asked herself, and above all why? She put her head in her hands and pondered.

~~~

Two Northuldra men waded through a shallow part of a quietly flowing wide creek and started to run faster once they reached the other side. The forest was slowly getting denser and man-sized bushes seemed to block the way. But the men knew exactly where a hidden path led through the undergrowth, and shortly afterwards they were no longer to be seen.

When they came out on the other side they stepped into a wide clearing. In the center was a large, elongated building, the upper part of which consisted of a tower-like construction, with skilfully timbered beams that protruded from the symmetrically built roof and ended at the upper end under a pyramid-shaped, open spire. Inside, a narrow wooden staircase led to the top, ending in a small platform. The lower part of the building had some narrow window openings placed remarkably high below the long roof boards, designed exclusively to let light into the interior.

Besides from the central entrance no windows were visible. Instead, at regular intervals long white birch branches were attached to the house in such a way that it almost looked as if they would support the whole structure. The branches protruded through the overhanging roof and then branched filigree upwards. Around the house, large birch trees grew at regular intervals, which were conspicuously straight and with their foliage formed a natural roof over the entire clearing and the building. This place looked impressive and almost magical.

The men rushed through the open double door and one of them pulled it shut behind him.

“Oh man, there you are at last, you're late! You must have been up against a big fish again, Joná?” joked one of the men standing near the entrance, laughing at the fisherman. It was the same one who had been on the beach the day before with a few others to interrogate Joná. Behind him, the hall was filled with Northuldra men, who seemed to be waiting for something, and some of them were talking animatedly.

Joná pulled a face, “Of course not, Völund, but the catch has to be brought to the camp by somebody, or do you want to have stinking fish on your plate later?” Völund waved off bored and turned around again.

The two fishermen looked at each other for a moment, nodded suspiciously and sneaked to the right side of the hall, where there was a second, smaller entrance. This door was wide open. Joná looked around and had to admit to himself that they had apparently really been the last, all the men from the camp were already present. Then he looked up in amazement. The room was very high with an open beam construction. Daylight flooded through the narrow windows. Torch holders were placed under each opening, and underneath them ran a balustrade around the entire interior. At the front, opposite the double doorway, a narrow staircase wound upwards, part of which led inwards in a semicircle and ended in a small opening at the top leading to the tower they had seen from the outside.

Joná had never been here, but of course he knew about the place and the purpose of it. In earlier days there was always a big kota in their camp, with a second entrance remarkably similar to the one he was standing next to now. This access was usually reserved for the shaman, the Noaidi of their people and this kota was used exclusively for rituals and the Norting, a grand assembly of his people. But this was long before his time and on recent decades, as he knew, there was no need of calling out a Great Ting. The last time was before the dam was built and the diplomatic negotiations with the foreigners from Arendelle were started. On these days, their elder had called for a meeting, but was shortly after murdered by this king behind his back. Today Yelana was their unspoken leader, and now it fell to her to proclaim a Norting if neccessary.

Joná was too young back then to attend such a meeting, but his father had told him all about it. Every man in his tribe ought to attend it as they came of age. At least when the opportunity arose. Today was apparently such a day, and Yelana, although not a Noaidi, just came in through the side door. She glanced around the hall for a moment and nodded at him briefly when she noticed him. Joná raised an eyebrow in surprise. Then she circled the waiting men and stood on one of the lower stairs to be heard well everywhere. It became quiet among those present.

She cleared her throat. “Traditionally, I am obliged to call a Norting when an important decision is about to be made and its consequence affect all of us. There are disturbing news related to recent events.”

In the hall there was a low murmur and many looked at each other with concern.

“However, I must first point out that my conclusions are based on suppositions, some of which have not yet been confirmed. Highly plausible assumptions, however. Our fifth spirit Elsa was probably attacked on purpose and there is possibly a certain person behind all this, someone who might have a good reason for it. That someone is also most likely behind the disappearance of the other four nature spirits.”

The worried murmurings in the hall abruptly increased.

“Hear me. I had a hunch, so I went to see Gyda yesterday.”

From the ranks of those present, someone shouted out loud and clear, “Gyda? What does this old witch have to do with it?”

Yelana's gaze swept around, angrily fixating on the one who presumed to disturb her speech and pointing at him with an admonishing index finger. “Be quiet and don't interrupt me! You have no idea what you are talking about. Gyda is not who many of us think she is. She is a solitary person, I admit, but she has been through a lot in her life, and if you would let me finish, you would understand.”

Yelana took a deep breath and outlined in short, rough words what Gyda had told her and how much it had burdened her. However, she left out the climax for now. Yelana was known for her seriousness, but there was one thing she did not miss out on, and that was to bring certain things to the point at the right time. Some of the younger men opened their eyes in surprise when she ended, but didn't dare say anything. Yelana noticed it, of course.

“Yes, those of you who were born under the mist may not have known it yet, but before Elsa, we had another fifth spirit. The older ones among you, including me, still knew him. He was difficult to deal with him, to say the least.”

Some nodded affirmatively.

“It was Gyda's own decision that she lived in seclusion ever since, and many of us have supported it. We have all, in our gullibility, judged her prematurely.”

One could see how many of the heads were lowered and it became quiet as a mouse.

And then Yelana got to the point, and somehow she enjoyed that moment, “Gyda had a son!”

It was quiet for a second, and everyone remained motionless to process what they had heard, but in the next second a wave of excited, loud word fragments burst onto Yelana, when most people suddenly realized what it meant. Yelana let them go for a few moments, but then struck several times hard with her gnarled birch cane on one of the steps above her. The whole construction vibrated and boomed and it became instantly quiet again in the hall.

“We do not know what he is capable of. But the fact that he apparently has the spirits under control and tried to kill Elsa and almost succeeded tells me that he is not to be underestimated by no means. He is different from his father in one crucial respect. He's out for revenge. Revenge on all those who were partly responsible for his father's death. Revenge on all those who came from Arendelle, home of that murderer Runeard.” She let the words sink in, then continued in a softer, but insistent voice.

“I deliberately did not invite Queen Anna and her companions, for as long as they are among us, we too may be the target of Kolgrimr, the name Gyda gave to him. For the time being, none of them may know our secret of the old fifth spirit and his son, and if they had not already planned to leave tomorrow and take Elsa with them, I would have arranged for it myself. Both Anna and Elsa are half Northuldra and half Arendellian and are descended from one of our oldest families. We owe them both so much when they freed us last year and we have made a new peace between us and Arendelle. But I admonish you all anyway. All this is something that we cannot control and we all have to decide this way, because unfortunately there is still something you do not know.”

Yelana paused in the silence and then looked over to Joná. “Come here, Joná,” she said forcefully and waved him over.

All heads turned and looked into the corner where he was standing. Völund's jaw dropped and Joná didn't know what was happening to him. He hesitated and looked around him nervously.

“You need not be afraid. Come...,” Yelana added reassuringly. Slowly he moved towards her, his head lowered and he wished he could hide now, it was clearly visible on his face. Finally he stood next to her and she put her hand on his shoulder.

“Because we had just talked about the fact that many of us have many prejudices and show a lack of respect for one of our own. Here stands Joná and he has done something that showed a lot of courage and conviction to want to help us all. He dared to approach Ahtohallan with his boat despite the ban, because he wanted to find out what was behind all these events. I don't mean to say that I approve, but he found out something that we otherwise wouldn’t know and which was ultimately decisive in convening this Norting.” She whispered to him that he could go back, and Joná hurried to comply.

“Ahtohallan lies beneath a magical fog wall, identical to the one that trapped most of us here for over 34 years. This is probably also the reason why Ahtohallan no longer has a connection to the nature spirits and can no longer help us. There is only one person who can be responsible for this and I hope you now understand why we are all in great danger if this kind of threat should come upon us.”

The ensuing turmoil was indescribable and Yelana had a hard time bringing everyone back to their senses. In the end, she raised both arms and moved her hands up and down to appease them.

“Please calm down again! I can understand your concern, but we are not his main target, please be aware of that. Kolgrimr survived somewhere under the mist completely alone for over 35 years since he was a seven year old kid and he never turned against us once. I guess none of us can even imagine the hatred and despise he has for Arendelle. That is also the reason why none of them can stay among us here. He has only recently started to put his plans into action and I can only hope that Elsa will very soon remember who she was before and what powers she once had. Keep your eyes and ears open and tell me immediately if you discover anything unusual. But please, stay away from him. He may be Northuldra, but no one can say what has become of him in all this time.”

Yelana took a deep breath and finally dissolved the assembly. “That's all for now. You can go back to camp now.”

As the last of them had streamed out of the hall, she sat down on the stairs, a little exhausted. “I don't want to be in the shoes of the Arendellians and I hope that Elsa still has her magic,” she muttered softly to herself and it sounded almost like a prayer.

~~~

---

I hope you have enjoyed this chapter! Please leave a comment if you liked the story, I would be pleased to read your opinions, even criticisms. If you want to be tagged as soon I publish the next chapter please let me know.

Remarks: Back when I was writing this chapter, I dreamed of this hidden building and always wished that someone might be able to draw it for me or that I would be able to do it myself. It wasn't until recently that I dared to do an edit and took Disney's concept art of the Northuldra-style Arendelle Castle as a basis for my story and modified it accordingly. I wish I had better quality imagery for the two Northuldra fishermen there, it took me quite a bit of effort. Hope you like the result.

Tagging: @karma26 @whether-near-to-me-or-far @annaofthenorthernlights @igotelsapregnanthelp

[schittfacedpod]

All episodes of Getting Schittfaced in order(ish) by Schitt’s Creek Season: 

Since we recorded the seasons out of order, here is a breakdown of the podcast in order of season. 

Season 1

Episode 16: Nothing's Coming Up Roses: "Our Cup Runneth Over," "The Drip," and "Don't Worry, It's His Sister"

Episode 17: Don’t Invite Us to Games Night: "Bad Parents," "The Cabin," and "Wine and Roses”

Episode 18: The Journey to Friendship: "Turkey Shoot," "Allez-Vous," "Carl's Funeral," and "Honeymoon"

Episode 19: The Word of the Day Is Asshole: "Little Sister," "Surprise Party," and "Town for Sale”

Season 2

Episode 20: Somebody Please Just Love Him Tender: "Finding David' and "Family Dinner"

Episode 21: We Have Lots of Questions: "Jazzagals," "Estate Sale," "Bob's Bagels," and "Moira vs. Town Council"

Episode 22: Let's Put a Pin in It: "The Candidate," "Milk Money," and "Moira's Nudes"

Episode 23: The Start of Something Good: "Ronnie's Party," "The Motel Guest," and "Lawn Signs."

Episode 24: The George Clooney of Canadian Comedy: "Happy Anniversary"

Season 3

Episode 25: The Scenic Barns of Elmdale: "Opening Night," "The Throuple," and "New Car"

Episode 26: Ready to Launch: "Driving Test," "Rooms by the Hour," "Murder Mystery," and "General Store"

Episode 27: Mid-Range Denim: "Motel Review" and "The Affair"

Episode 28: The Most Punchable Face in Schitt's Creek: "Sebastien Raine," "Stop Saying Lice!" and "Friends & Family."

Episode 29: Lightning Strikes: “Grad Night” 

Season 4

Episode 30: A Small Amount of Class: "Dead Guy in Room 4" and "Pregnancy Test"

Episode 31: Schitt's Creek Casual: "Asbestos Fest," "Girls' Night," and "RIP Moira Rose"

Episode 32: Putting It in Writing: "Open Mic" and "The Barbecue"

Episode 33: Schittwood: "The Jazzaguy" and "The Olive Branch"

Episode 34: How Many Cults Can One Town Have?: "Baby Sprinkle" and "The Rollout"

Episode 35: The Circle of Courage: "Singles Week" and "Merry Christmas, Johnny Rose"

Season 5

Episode 36: The Royal We: "The Crowening," "Love Letters," and "The Plant"

Episode 37: A Whole Lotta Love: "The Dress," "Housewarming," and "Rock On!"

Episode 38: The Baseball Day: "A Whisper of Desire," "The Hospies," "The M.V.P.," and "Roadkill"

Episode 39: Full of Surprises: “Meet the Parents”

Episode 40: Willkommen, Bienvenue, Welcome!: "The Roast," "The Hike," and "Life Is a Cabaret"

Episode 1: Prosecco Wishes and Cabaret Dreams: A recap of Seasons 1 through 5

Season 6

Episode 2: Wigs and Wiggles: “Smoke Signals” 

Episode 3: Business on the Top, Party on the Bottom: “The Incident” 

Episode 4: Is There Anything Classier Than a Leather Suit?: “The Job Interview”

Episode 5: The Crows Have Eyes (And Headbands Too): “Maid of Honour”

Episode 6: Loud Eyes, Loud Hearts, Can't Lose: “The Premiere”

Episode 7: You Do You: “The Wingman”

Episode 8: Designated Grapes: "Moira Rosé"

Episode 9: A Bittersweet Fare-whale: “The Presidential Suite” 

Episode 10: Bea Gets Banned: “Rebound” 

Episode 11: Mo Tels Mo Problems: “Sunrise, Sunset”

Episode 12: A Much Needed Escape: “The Bachelor Party” 

Episode 13: Pitch Perfect: “The Pitch” 

Episode 14: Hearts on Fire: "Start Spreading the News“

Episode 15: Always Be My Bébé: “Happy Ending” 

Episode 41: Another Happy Ending: “Best Wishes, Warmest Regards: A Schitt's Creek Farewell” 

Bonus Episodes: 

Episode 12.5: We'll Always Have Schitt's Creek: EW Photoshoot

Episode 22.5: And Then the Roses Come Along: Dear Class of 2020 Schitt’s Creek Reunion with Mariah Carey

[royalpain16]

It’s no surprise that Prince Harry and Meghan want to give the gardens at their new Californian pad the royal treatment — but using Native American “holy water” may be taking it too far.

The couple’s $20 million mansion in exclusive Montecito used to belong to the Barbareno-Chumash tribe — and they’re not happy with the water consumption of the Sussexes!

Tribe leader Eleanor Fishburn said Harry and Meghan were beautifying their gardens with water from Hot Spring Creek, which is considered sacred.

“They water their lawn with holy water,” the 60-year-old said. “For us this water is a pure water, a holy water and a ceremonial water.

“As a native population, it is sacred for us and the idea that people in the area are using water from springs to water their gardens is something that doesn’t sit well with us.”

Eleanor invited Harry and Meghan, who live in the mansion with their children Archie and Lilibet, to meet with the tribe to discuss alternative water sources.

“What do Harry and Meghan know about the history of the land they live on? I would like to invite them to our monthly council meeting so that they can see what’s going on in your garden,” she said.

“It would be great if they came so we could explain our history and culture and let them know about how sacred the water is to us.

“It would be good to explain to them that if they are using the water to irrigate their garden, they have an alternative choice.”

The Barbareno-Chumash tribe once lived along the coast of California and the centuries-old remains of a man, believed to be from the tribe, was found close to the Sussexes mansion recently.

[wistfulcynic]

The Eternal and Unseen (3 of 4)

SO yeah. The chapter count has grown. There’s a lot going on here. David has a backstory. Emma and Killian have a mission. IT’S A LOT and it needs more words. 

CW: This chapter contains minor (and canon compliant) character death and a potentially distressing scene involving the accidental death of a child. It’s not graphic but it is emotional so be prepared. 

As ever, thanks to @ohmightydevviepuu for plotting with me and @thisonesatellite and @katie-dub for general amazingness and @optomisticgirl​ and @spartanguard​ for the prompts and the always-enthusiastic responses 😘

And @carpedzem​ for another absolutely stunning drawing. SEE BELOW. 

SUMMARY: Misthaven University is an ancient place, and as all ancient places do it guards some secrets. Secrets such as Emma Swan and Killian Jones, a fae princess and her royal guardian, whose true identities are well concealed behind the guise of average college students—if not quite well enough to foil the plot their enemies have hatched against them. Now their friends will have to come together, putting their own differences aside to battle an enemy that threatens them all—fae and vampire and werewolf together… plus one very baffled human named David.

For @cssns​

AO3 | tumblr part one | tumblr part two 

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(I MEAN. WHAT. SO PERFECT.)

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PART THREE:

They returned to Andersen just as twilight was creeping across the sky and the moon rising into it, heavy and dark gold as it crested the forest trees. Emma watched it through the window of her room, where she and Killian and David had retreated to rest a bit and collect themselves before deciding on their next move. The others had also gone to their rooms rest and prepare, and now David sat on Emma’s bed with his hands clasped in his lap and his shoulders tight as Killian made Emma a cup of tea and she frowned at the moon. 

David watched in silence as Killian approached Emma and offered her a steaming cup. She accepted it with a smile and a cheek turned up to meet the kiss he dropped on it, in a gesture so comfortable and natural it gave David’s heart a little twinge. He wondered how he could ever have thought they weren’t right for each other when the depth and intensity of their love was so very, very obvious. 

But then he was becoming aware that there were in fact a great many obvious things in this world that he hadn’t been able to see. It was not a comfortable thought. 

“So,” he said, breaking the silence. “I get that you’ve both got a lot of thinking to do right now. But could you—is there time for you just to explain a few things first? Like exactly what the hell is going on? I feel like everyone knows what’s happening here but me.” 

“That shouldn’t be a new feeling for you,” remarked Killian with a smirk. David sighed. 

“Yeah, okay, that’s fair. I’m not sure how I missed so much of what was happening around me, but I see it now and I’d like to understand it.”

Emma and Killian exchanged a glance. 

“What exactly have you seen?” Emma asked. 

“Visions?” David said uncertainly. “Of the past? Killian made me drink something purple and then I started seeing things.” 

“Something purple?” Emma frowned. 

“Yeah. He put some grey powder and a crushed up leaf into a beaker full of something Victor gave him, and it turned purple. And started to smoke,” said David.

“You gave him purple willow bark?” Emma turned to Killian in alarm.

“Aye,” Killian replied. “Along with the sap from one of Jane’s leaves.”  

“Oh.” Emma relaxed. “Well, that was the right choice of leaf at least.” 

“I do listen when you talk about the plants, love.”  

“Hmmm,” said Emma. “And how did you feel afterwards?” she asked David. 

“I—kind of passed out.” 

Emma nodded. “I’m not surprised. Purple willow packs a punch. Normally we blend a few herbs into the emulsifier to soften its effects, but there’s no way Killian could have known the correct ones. He did the best he could in the circumstances.” She gave Killian a smile that tried hard to be sardonic. “This time, though, I’ll give you the gentler version.” 

David started. “This time?” 

“Well, yeah,” said Emma. “It’s the easiest way to give you the information you need. We could explain, I suppose, but it’s really best if you see it for yourself. Especially if you want to know your own history.” 

“My… own history?” 

Emma nodded, her expression sorrowful and soft with sympathy. “Yeah. You’ve seen the history of the fae and the Guardians, now you need to understand where you fit into that.” 

“Killian—” David cleared his throat. “Killian said I’m a—a Guardian? Like he is?” 

“Yeah you are. But as you’ve probably guessed there’s more to it than that. Are you ready to See?” 

David swallowed hard. Part of him still wanted to say no, to deny all of this and run, back to yesterday when things had made sense. But a bigger part of him knew he needed to know, and to understand why all these crazy things that were happening to him seemed less and less crazy the more he thought about them. The more he thought. 

“Yeah,” he said. “I’m ready.” 

~

It’s less abrupt this time, smoother, as though he’s drifting in a boat on a misty sea. The mist clears and the sea recedes and he is standing at the edge of a wood, with fields at his back and before him trees that reach up to the sky, tall and straight as in the forest of the fae council, only now they frame not an ancient round stone but a house. It’s a nice house if rather a small one, humble but homey, made of wood and fronted by a well-kept garden with a creek running through it. Something about the house tickles at David’s memory—though no, not his memory exactly, more a feeling… the sense that he has been here before. 

He blinks and finds himself inside the house, in a cramped bedroom where a woman lies back against rumpled pillows, exhausted, cradling a tiny newborn baby in her arms. Slowly she traces the curve of the baby’s cheek with the tip of her finger, her eyes alight with wonder. 

“James,” she whispers. “Your name is James.” 

“And who is this one?” asks a voice. David turns to see another woman, plain and sturdy and with kind eyes, holding up another tiny bundle. This second bundle she places gently in the crook of the woman’s other arm. 

“David,” says the woman on the bed. “This one is David.” 

David gasps and his eyes fly to the woman, but before he can get a good look at her the scene is shifting and he sees the babies—himself and his brother—his brother—now toddlers, running through the woods behind the house. He knows, somehow, which is himself and which is James—though their faces are identical, James’s wears an expression of recklessness and mischief as he runs as fast as his young legs can take him to the edge of the creek that comes out from the woods to cut across the corner of their garden. Young David follows, his tiny face crumpling as he calls out to his brother, and David now can feel the terror of his younger self as he sees James slip on the slick rocks that border the creek, hears his brother’s cry, abruptly silenced as his head hits the stones… David sees his own young legs move as fast as they can—faster than they should—but still far too slowly. He hears a heartrending scream, feels the flurry of movement as his mother runs from the garden—she turned her back for the briefest moment—and David looks away. His toddler self is bawling and he cannot watch it, cannot listen to his mother’s broken sobs… this, he thinks, this must be why she never told him that he had a twin. Her cries are unearthly as she cradles James’s tiny form, and they echo in David’s aching chest as he squeezes his eyes shut and wills the scene to change. 

It does, and when he looks again he’s back inside the house where it is clear that time has passed—though it cannot be much; David’s younger self is older now but by a few months or so, no more. He is in the bedroom again, where a man with a very familiar square chin and blond hair arms himself for battle, while David’s mother sits on the bed and pleads for him to stay. 

“You know that I can’t, Ruth,” the man says, “The call has come, and my duty—” 

“Oh, your duty!” Ruth cries. “You’re not even the chosen Guardian!” 

“But I am a guardian,” he insists. “I must go to battle when called. And David—” 

“David is a child!” 

“A child with a bounden duty, the same as my own. You knew this when you married me.” 

“I know. I know I did but I can’t bear it now,” sobs Ruth. “I can’t, Robert. Not so soon after James.” 

Robert takes her face gently in his hands and kisses her. “I will return,” he says softly. “I promise, my love.”  

But David knows, even without being shown by the vision, that he never did. 

The scene shifts again. Very little time has passed, David can tell, but the change in his mother is heartbreaking. She is wan, gaunt, lying listlessly on the sofa with no expression in her eyes, and David can feel the worry of his toddler self as he makes a show of playing quietly on the floor, but with far more attention on his mother than his toys. She is weakened by despair and fragile from her losses, and young though he is, David is afraid for her. 

There is a knock at the door but his mother makes move to answer or even acknowledge it. It’s David who toddles over and cries “Come in!” 

The door opens to admit a woman, pale and blonde and green-eyed. Her face resembles Emma’s though considerably older, and she lacks the determined chin, the stubborn glint in the eye that Emma has. 

His mother’s eyes flit briefly to the woman then away, and she makes no move to rise. “Princess Angharad,” she says flatly. 

“Ruth,” replies the woman, coming to stand next to the sofa. Her stern expression softens in sympathy and, David thinks, a hint of pity. “I’m so very sorry.” 

“I’m sure you are,” sneers Ruth. “You lost a fine warrior, after all.” 

David gapes—never in his life has he heard his mother speak so rudely. Angharad’s expression does not change. 

“Your sacrifice has been great—” she begins, but Ruth interrupts her.

“Yes it has,” she says sharply. “And it won’t be any greater. I’m taking David and I am leaving this place.” 

Angharad’s eyebrows rise then snap together in a frown. “Leaving!” she exclaims.

“Yes.” 

“But—you know that David has been chosen as the Guardian for my granddaughter, Emma.” 

“Yes I do.” 

“His selection was a great honour.”  

“Yes it was. And I refuse it. You can’t have him.” 

“Ruth—” 

“No!” There’s fire in Ruth’s eyes now, sparking dangerously as she sits up straight to glare at the princess. “You’ve taken my husband. I’ve lost my son. David is all I have left, you will not take him from me too!” 

“But the Guardian—” 

“Choose another.” 

Angharad steps backwards and nearly stumbles into the armchair next to the sofa. She twists her hands together in her lap. “It is your right, as you know, to make this refusal on behalf of your minor child,” she says. “But I would urge you, strongly urge you to reconsider.” 

“I won’t.” Ruth’s jaw is set. “My mind is made up.” 

The princess’s own jaw is tight, her eyes troubled. “There is another who might do,” she murmurs, almost to herself. “Closer in age to Emma than we generally prefer and with certain… troubling portents, but if you are truly adamant…” She darts a glance at Ruth. 

“I am,” Ruth confirms. Angharad nods. She looks up again and this time holds Ruth’s gaze.

“And what is your intention, when you leave us?” she asks. “Where will you go?”

“Into the human world. I’m going to raise my son among his own kind, humans who have no obligation to the fae or any knowledge of darkness or covenants. He’ll grow up as far away from magic as I can get him.” 

Angharad’s face is sorrowful now. “I cannot agree with this decision, as much as I sympathise with why you have taken it. This recent battle has brought great losses to many of our human allies. For that I am boundlessly sorry.” 

“I don’t accept your apology,” says Ruth stiffly. “Although I do acknowledge it.” 

“That is fair.” Angharad nods. She straightens her shoulders and looks at Ruth again. “Before I go and with your permission, I would bestow on you one final gift.” 

Ruth’s eyes narrow in suspicion. “What sort of gift?” 

Angharad looks at young David, still playing on the floor and listening, older David is certain, to every word. “The human world is not like ours but there is still magic there, and David with his heritage and the distinction that should have been his will find himself drawn to it,” she explains. “I can—close his mind, as it were, to the perception of that magic, make it far more difficult for him to see and easier to rationalise if he does see it.” 

“You want to mess with my son’s head,” says Ruth flatly.

“In a manner of speaking,” Angharad concedes. “It’s not normally something I would do especially to a child so young, but understand me well, Ruth—underestimating the pull of his heritage, of two hundred generations of Guardians, would be a grave mistake. Even with this spell upon him he may still find himself drawn by magic. You cannot keep him from it by your will alone.” 

“Fine,” Ruth spits. “Do what you like.” 

Angharad approaches young David with a kind smile and kneels beside him. 

“What’s that you’re playing with?” she asks. 

“Lego!” he exclaims. “It’s a castle!” 

“And a very fine one too,” Angharad murmurs, with such sadness in her eyes David’s heart aches. She brushes the hair from his forehead then lets her hand rest there as she murmurs a few words. David feels his younger mind blur and shift and resettle. The toddler’s eyes go hazy and he blinks them slowly, and when the princess removes her hand he returns to his toys, blithely building his castle as though she were not even there. 

Angharad rises to her feet. “I shall take the sword now,” she says briskly. 

Ruth gets up from the sofa and disappears through the bedroom door. When she returns she is carrying a long sword—the same sword David last saw belted around his father’s waist. The one that is now in his own possession. 

“What will you do with it?” Ruth asks, thrusting the sword at Angharad.  

“Keep it safe,” she replies. “It rightfully belongs to your son, and to his descendants. One day perhaps one of them might wish to claim it.” 

“I hope not,” says Ruth. “With every fibre of my being I hope it.” 

“That is your right, and your prerogative,” replies Angharad. “As it is mine to hope that despite everything that has come to pass, one day David may take it up again, and find his way back to us.”

~

Emma sat in her armchair with her legs curled beneath her and a cup of tea steaming gently in her hand, watching the images flickering in her scrying mirror. David was lying in her bed, his eyes moving frantically beneath closed lids and his limbs twitching as he re-lived his history. Killian and Harriet both sat at his beside, ready to react should anything go wrong. Emma cast a glance at them, smiling fondly at the sight of one of Harriet’s fronds curled gently around Killian’s neck, stroking the nape of it as Emma herself liked to do. Killian gave a little hum at the tickling caress but did not look up from the book that lay open in his lap. 

Emma turned her attention back to the mirror. The images it revealed confirmed her suspicions, but something about the whole business still troubled her, something she couldn’t quite put her finger on. She frowned as she went back over some of the images, playing them again, willing herself to see what she was missing. 

Harriet unfurled one of her vines—not the one standing ready to protect David or the one fondling Killian (Harriet was an excellent multi-tasker) and with the closest thing to a long-suffering sigh a plant can muster tapped the tip of a leaf against one of the posters Emma had blu-tacked to the wall. The one that outlined the lunar cycles of the year 2020. Another leaf gestured emphatically at the window, where the golden moon was still rising in the sky.

“Of course,” breathed Emma. “That’s it.”  

Killian looked up from his book. “That’s what, love?” 

“I’ve just figured out what’s been bothering me about this whole thing,” Emma exclaimed. Harriet huffed and folded her vine as a person might fold their arms across their chest. “Okay, okay,” laughed Emma, “it was Harriet who figured it out.” 

“Naturally.” Killian gave Harriet a little scratch behind her leaf. 

“But it all makes sense now,” Emma continued. “Things I couldn’t find a good explanation for, like why those women would kidnap me and why my instincts would tell me they were deadly dangerous when every other sign indicates that they’re really, really not.” She set her teacup down on her desk and leapt to her feet, dropping an absent kiss on Killian’s cheek as she headed for the door. “You stay here until David wakes up, okay? It should only be a few more minutes. I need to go talk to Belle.” 

~

Angharad’s final words echo in his ears as the scene shifts around her, and though her face appears unchanged David senses she is now some years older. This seems confirmed by the young woman seated in front of her, a blonde and green-eyed fae that is, finally, Emma. 

She’s so young, David thinks, with a small twinge beneath his heart, though this cannot be more than a few years in the past. Emma’s face is rounder and her hair less styled, though he can see the seeds of the woman he knows in the stubborn set to her girlish jaw and the wilful spark in her eyes. She’s dressed in a long split skirt and a fitted leather jerkin in her trademark red, which even with his limited knowledge from these visions David recognises as a traditional fae style, updated for the modern world, and he is not surprised that this is something young Emma might choose to wear. She sits on a wide, cushioned seat in a large room where the walls appear to be formed of tightly twisted tree branches with tall windows and a wooden door set into them. David reflects for a moment how a mere twenty-four hours ago such decor would have astonished him, then returns his attention to Angharad and to Emma.

“Now that you are about to come of age,” the elder fae is saying, “it’s high time you met your Guardian.” 

“Ugh. Do I have to?” 

Emma manages not to whine but David can tell it’s a near thing. She crosses her arms over her chest and it’s plain to see her lower lip wants badly to pout. 

“Don’t you want to?” Angharad looks shocked. 

“No, actually,” Emma retorts. “I don’t need a man to take care of me.” 

“He is not a man, he’s your Guardian,” her grandmother scolds, “and his job is not to ‘take care of you.’ It is to protect you.” 

“I don’t need that either!” 

Angharad’s expression says plainly that she is holding tight to her patience. “Emma, the most recent battles are within your lifetime—” 

“Barely,” Emma mutters.

“—and despite your gifts for scrying you cannot predict with certainty when there might be another. After the loss of both your parents and so many of our kind we simply cannot afford to be without our Guardians should we find ourselves again under attack. Without their aid fae kind would have been lost thousands of years ago, and indeed as the covenants say—” 

“All right, all right,” groans Emma. “For the love of the goddess, don’t start quoting the covenants. I’ll accept this Guardian and do what is required of me. But you canNOT make me need him!” 

“I will pray that you never do,” says Angharad, now with a twinkle of humour behind her stern expression. 

A knock sounds at the door, and she goes to open it. A young man enters the room, mid-twenties at David’s estimate and moving with a distinct stiffness in his right leg. “Ah, good day to you, Captain Jones,” Angharad greets him warmly. “Do come in. But where is your brother?” 

“Outside looking at your horses,” says the man with a sigh. He continues to speak but David doesn’t hear his words—he has noticed Emma slip quietly from the room and he follows her. She creeps down a narrow hallway and through a door at the back of the dwelling. Once outside she darts through a sparse scattering of trees, heading for a long, low building that David gathers to be the stables. Just as she approaches the broad stable door it flies open and a boy strides through it, colliding with Emma and barely managing to catch her before she can fall. 

“Oh!” she cries and the boy grunts, blinking startled blue eyes as he gazes down at her. Her own eyes widen and for a moment they stand frozen, his arms around her waist and her hands on his chest, staring at each other in helpless fascination—until the boy blinks rapidly and clears his throat as he steps back. 

Killian—because of course it’s he—scratches nervously behind his ear. 

“Um,” he says, “er... ah…” 

“Eloquent,” teases Emma, who has by all appearance regained her composure—though David notes the bright flush in her cheeks and the breathiness of her voice. “You must be Killian Jones.” 

“Aye,” he replies, collecting his wits and giving her a hesitant smile. “And you are of course the princess Emma.” 

“I am.” 

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, lass.” 

“The pleasure is all yours,” retorts Emma. Killian looks first startled, then affronted, then captivated, all within a few blinks of an eye. A delighted grin spreads across his face, with just a hint of the smirk he will perfect in years to come. 

Emma herself blinks at that grin, and the flush on her cheeks deepens. “You should know from the start that I don’t need a Guardian,” she declares, attempting to cover her discomfiture with a haughty glare. “I can take care of myself.” 

“Oh yes,” says Killian. His gaze travels slowly down her form and back up again. “I don’t doubt that you can.” 

“Oh.” Emma scowls at his easy acquiescence and also, David imagines, at the way he’s looking at her—as though she’s the most brilliant thing he’s ever seen. She shifts uncomfortably as Killian moves closer. 

“But however capable you may be, Your Highness,” he says, his voice dropping lower and his expression hardening, “and regardless of whether or not you want one, you’ve got a Guardian. Me.” He leans in closer still and David can hear Emma’s breath catch. “And I intend to take my duties very, very seriously.” 

“But I don’t need you!” Emma snaps. There’s frustration in her tone and temper in her eyes, though she doesn’t, David notices, back away. 

“And I don’t care.” 

They are so close now their noses are nearly touching and the air crackles with the tension between them. David is all too familiar with these battles of wills of theirs, having witnessed many firsthand in the dorm, but this one, the first one, is the most intense of all. He holds his own breath as he watches them take the measure of each other, notes the rapid rise and fall of their chests and the way their eyes are locked, how Killian’s hand curls around Emma’s hip and hers slides up his chest without either of them noticing. He begins to feel as though he should look away—this moment is too intimate for him to witness—but then Angharad’s voice cries “Emma!” from the direction of the house and she and Killian wrench themselves apart. 

They stare at each other for a moment as they attempt to catch their breaths, then Emma gives her hair a toss. 

“Well,” she huffs, “have it your way, I guess. You can follow me around if you like, I can’t stop you, but you’re going to look pretty stupid when you show up to save me and find I’ve already saved myself.” 

Killian laughs, loud and bright. “I’m prepared to take that chance, princess,” he says. 

The scene shimmers and resolves into two figures walking through the woods. One is Killian and the other his brother, the man whom Angharad addressed earlier as Captain Jones. His limp is more pronounced now, a halting gait caused by the stiff way he holds his right leg and his clear reluctance to put weight on it, as though the knee cannot be fully trusted. The two of them emerge from the trees and out onto a narrow road where a car is parked. David notes the way Killian moderates his own pace to match his brother’s, unconsciously, walking slowly despite the buzz of nervous energy that is rolling off him in waves.

They approach the car and Killian removes a set of keys from his pocket to unlock it, then gets behind the wheel while his brother with effort eases himself into the passenger seat. There’s a scowl on Killian’s face and his movements are jerky as he puts the car in gear; his brother has been lecturing him and he is clearly displeased. David hasn’t been listening to their words but he concentrates on them now, just in time to hear Killian snap “Bloody hell, Liam—” 

“Language!” 

“—I only met her today! We spoke for less than five minutes! Don’t you think it’s a bit premature to be warning me away from her!” 

“I wish it were,” Liam mutters. “Sometimes five minutes is all it takes.” 

Killian grips the steering wheel hard with one hand and jams the key into the ignition with the other. “What the devil are you on about?” he grumbles, though the look on his face makes David suspect that he knows full well what Liam is ‘on about’, and that it worries him too. 

Liam sighs. “Look, just—just be careful, little brother.” 

“When am I not careful, and it’s younger brother, if you don’t mind.” 

“Killian.” Liam’s face is intensely solemn, with genuine fear behind his eyes. “You can’t fall in love with her.” 

Killian shoots his brother a glare as he twists the key and the car’s engine roars to life. “I know that,” he snaps, “and I don’t intend to.” 

David nearly laughs. If that’s what has Liam so concerned, his warning’s come far too late. Killian is halfway in love already, and his feelings are a tide that cannot be turned. 

“Well.” Liam shifts uncomfortably in his seat and folds his arms across his chest. “See that you don’t, then.” 

Killian twists the wheel and he car peels away. David doesn’t follow it. He can feel the potion thinning in his veins, the visions receding along with the car’s taillights, leaving him standing in the fading forest wondering what on earth could make the prospect of Killian and Emma falling in love strike such fear into a man like Liam Jones. 

~

David came awake slowly, drifting back to consciousness in that boat on the misty sea. When he opened his eyes he found himself lying on Emma’s bed wrapped in some sort of blanket, warm and quite comfortable and with Killian beside him in a chair, a book open in his lap. He shut the book when he sensed David’s gaze on him, set it aside and offered a smile. 

“How are you feeling, mate?” he asked. 

“Good,” said David, then paused to clear the croak from his voice. “Hell of a lot better than I did after the potion you gave me.” 

“Aye, I don’t doubt it.” Killian chuckled. “ I’m pretty much the furthest thing imaginable from an expert on magic. It was all I could do to remember the basic elements of the potion Angharad gave me when I accepted my Guardian duties.” 

“So you—saw what I did? The visions?”

“I saw what you did the first time,” said Killian. “The fae histories and the origin of the Guardians. That knowledge is given to all of us. These latest visions, though, were for you alone.” 

David moved to sit up only to discover that he couldn’t. What he had taken for a blanket turned out, upon closer examination, to be an enormous, glossy green leaf wrapped tightly around him. 

“What the—” he sputtered. 

“Oh, that’s Harriet,” said Killian, blithely, as though leaves the size of blankets were a thing one found oneself wrapped in as a matter of course. “Don’t worry, she’s friendly. Most of the time.” 

Another leaf appeared in front of David’s face, this one far smaller and with tiny green fronds curling at its base. He could swear it was waving at him. 

“Say hello,” Killian encouraged. 

“Um, hello, uh, Harriet,” said David. The leaf gave a nod. “Um, what’s it—er, she doing here?”

“Keeping you safe.” 

“Oh. Er. Sure. Thanks?” 

 The leaf nodded graciously, then curled around his face and patted him on the head. 

“You see?” said Killian. “She’s a sweetheart. Just don’t get on her bad side.” 

“Um. Why?” 

Killian grinned. “Show him, Harriet.” 

The leaf released David’s head and reappeared in front of his face. As he watched, it gave a sudden flex and thorns appeared across its surface, close-set and a good inch long, sharp as daggers. David gulped. “Oh.” 

“Aye. But don’t worry, she likes you. She generally likes the people Emma likes.” 

“Well that’s, um, good.” 

“That it is.” Killian gave Harriet a pat. “Let him up, now, love.” 

Harriet unfurled her leaf and slid it out from under him. David sat up, groaning and flexing his aching muscles. “Is it normal to feel this sore?” he asked. 

“Oh yes. The visions take quite a lot out of you. But here, Emma left you this.” He held out a cup of a dark and steaming liquid. David accepted it warily, and gave it a sniff. It smelled earthy and sweet, like nothing he’d encountered before, and when he chanced a tentative sip it was delicious. 

“What is this?” he asked, taking a larger drink.

“Infusion of the lesser burdock root,” said Killian. 

“Oh, well that doesn’t sound too—” 

“Fermented in wild boar dung.” 

David choked and spat out his mouthful of liquid, wheezing and coughing as Killian laughed and clapped him on the back. “Don’t worry, it’s thoroughly washed before they infuse it,” he said. 

“Yea, that’s not really all that comforting.” 

“Drink it up anyway, mate, it’ll soothe the muscle aches and calm your nerves. Just don’t think too hard about it.” 

David squeezed his eyes shut and gulped down the brew as quickly as he could. Within moments his muscles relaxed and his heart rate slowed. He sucked in a deep breath and released it slowly, then opened his eyes. 

“Better?” inquired Killian. 

“Yeah.” He paused, then added “Physically at least.” 

Killian nodded, and sat back in his chair. “You have questions,” he observed. 

“One or two.” 

“Anything you care to ask, I’ll do my best to answer.” 

David rubbed a hand over his face. There was so much to process in what he’d seen, so much about himself that he had never known. He wondered what Killian knew, wondered how the younger man had managed to identify him as a fellow Guardian. How could he possibly have known? Unless… “How much did you see of… of what I saw today?” he asked.

“I saw none of it, not in visions. I told you, that’s your history and yours alone. But I knew the basic details, about your brother and your father, and the reason your mother took you away from the tribe.” 

“Angharad told you.” 

“Aye.” 

“Because you weren’t supposed to be Emma’s Guardian.” 

Killian shook his head. “No. I wasn’t. Originally it was meant to be my brother Liam.” 

David considered Captain Liam Jones, and his stiff gait. “But he was too badly injured,” he murmured.

“Yes. In the battle that killed your father.” 

David looked up sharply. “But he must have been just a child!” 

“He was ten.” Killian swallowed hard, and when he spoke again his voice was strained. “Too young to fight, but not to young to come under attack. Raiders invaded our house, in search of my father. When Liam told them he had fled, they attacked the both of us. I was barely a year old. Liam shielded me, he wouldn’t let me go no matter what they did to him. Even when they smashed his kneecap beyond repair.” 

David recalled the tiny boy who shared his face, racing towards the creek. It seemed he and Killian had more in common then he’d known. “Why were they after you?” he asked gruffly. “And who’s they?” 

“We don’t know,” said Killian wryly. “They didn’t exactly stick around to effect introductions. We only know that they were humans, enemies of the fae, trying to eliminate a Guardian and his sons.” 

“Your father’s a Guardian?” 

“He was,” Killian spat. “Before he ran away and abandoned us. I don’t know if he’s even alive anymore. I don’t care.” He did care though, David thought. The pain of his father’s betrayal remained sharp, even after so many years. But he said nothing, and Killian continued. “At any rate, Liam was left unable to guard the princess, and so the mantle was passed to you.”

“And when my mother took me away—” 

“It came to me, aye. As the very last of last resorts.” He attempted a laugh. “But it must be said that Angharad was never entirely comfortable with me as Emma’s Guardian. She’s highly gifted with Sight and I think she must have known that there was”—he flushed a bright pink and David bit back a smirk—“the potential for deeper feelings between us. But she had, very literally, no other choice.” 

“Are deeper feelings not allowed? Is that why your brother warned you not to fall in love with Emma?” 

“Ah.” Killian scratched behind his ear. “You saw that, did you? Did you also see—”

“Your and Emma’s first meeting?” David did smirk this time. “Yeah.” 

Killian’s flush deepened. “Aye, she, uh, mentioned she might show that to you.” 

“I’m glad she did, actually,” said David. “It was sweet, really, seeing you nearly swallow your own tongue after one look at her.” 

“I didn’t—” Killian began, then caught David’s sardonic expression. “Well, okay, maybe I did,” he conceded. “That’s not the reason she showed you, though.” 

“It’s because you weren’t supposed to get involved with each other,” said David, just a bit smugly. “And she wanted me to understand why in spite of that, you did. Isn’t that it?”  

“You know, I like you better now that you’re not so bloody dense,” Killian retorted, “but it’s also kind of annoying, you actually seeing the things right in front of your face.” 

“Just answer the question, Jones.” 

“Yes,” said Killian shortly. “You’re right. For a Guardian and his charge to fall in love is expressly forbidden. I could be executed for it.” 

“Executed!” 

Killian shrugged. “It’s happened before.” 

“And yet you don’t seem very worried.” 

Killian leaned forward in his chair, his elbows on his knees and his hands clasped. “Those histories you saw, the war against the Black Fairy and the Guardian alliances,” he said, “they happened over four thousand years ago.” 

“Four thousand!” 

 “Indeed. So as you might imagine, a lot has changed since then. The fae population has steadily dwindled while the human one has surged. Magic is no longer widely used or even known, and much of fae history has been wiped from official records. Up to and including the original name of this very building.” 

H.C. Andersen, David thinks. Teller of fairy tales. Because what better way to lessen the fear of something than to turn it into a children’s story? 

 “Meanwhile,” continued Killian, “the Guardians also have been whittled away to almost nothing. My brother out of commission and our father gone. Your father and brother both killed and you taken away. And that’s just in these past twenty years. Of the twelve fae tribes four have retreated entirely from human contact and refuse to have Guardians, and the eight who remain have only twenty-one active Guardians among them. A century ago there were hundreds of us. A millennium ago, thousands.”

David considered this. “But doesn’t that just make it even more reckless for you and Emma to give in to—um—” 

“Our lustful desires?” Killian mocked. 

“Well, er—” 

“Aye, you might well imagine it would,” Killian replied, dropping the mockery with a sigh. “Except that there’s no one left to pass judgement on us. A ruling of execution would have to be proposed and carried by the Fae Council, which hasn’t been convened for centuries. I’m not sure anyone would even know how to convene it if they wanted to. The covenants that we follow are thousands of years old, made in and for a different time. They no longer suit the needs of anyone, fae or human, but of course only the Fae Council has the power to amend them.” 

“Of course,” murmured David, though he found it rather comforting that fae bureaucracy was apparently as useless as the human version. 

“Something has to change,” said Killian, “but no one knows exactly what or how or who is going to change it. So Emma and I decided that we would. Who better than the protector of the tywyll stone and her Guardian to make the decisions that need making? No one has more authority than we do, and we intend to use it. That’s why we’re not afraid anymore to make our relationship known. We’ll face whatever consequences may come and we’ll fight for each other. We’re prepared to do whatever is necessary to build a world where we can be together and be happy.” 

He spoke so calmly and with such assurance, David thought, like there was no doubt in his mind of his feelings or of Emma’s. David thought of Snow—her face as always bright and beautiful and at the forefront of his mind—and a twisty tangle of yearning tightened in his chest. 

“Well, I’m on your side,” he said. “For whatever that’s worth.” 

Killian smiled. “It’s worth quite a lot, mate. For us personally but also because you’re a Guardian. That’s a heritage that can’t be erased; even though you didn’t grow up with it, it’s still yours. Your sword recognised you. You recognised Emma. And Snow, who, by the way, is also a fae princess. You know, just in case you were interested.” His eyes twinkled with mischief as David shot him a sharp look.

“Does—” David cleared his throat. “Does she have a Guardian?” 

“She does. Chap by the name of Lance. Big fellow, many muscles.” 

“I see. But he’s not, er, here?” 

“He’s nearby,” said Killian. “Ready to respond in an instant if he’s called. Guardians don’t actually have to live so close to their charges as Emma and I do, but—well—” 

“You wanted to be near each other.” 

“Aye.” 

David had so many more questions, dozens of them clamouring for his attention, but before he could ask any the door swung open and Emma appeared. 

“Oh, good, you’re awake,” she said. “Everything all right?” 

“Uh, yeah,” David replied. “I think so.” 

“Good, because I think I know what’s going on here. Everyone’s meeting in the common room in five.” 

~

Despite the chill of the night the common room was warm, lit by a bright and crackling fire. David sat on the wide sofa across from the hearth, with Ruby next to him and Graham on her other side. August lounged in the armchair in the corner and Killian in the one next to the fireplace, while Victor leaned against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. Emma stood in front of the fire with Belle hovering at her side, just visible in the orange light of the flames. Snow wasn’t there—she had volunteered to stay back in the forest to guard the women in their tree-branch prison. David wished she hadn’t—there were things he desperately wanted to tell her, though he knew that, as she would say, now was not the time. 

Emma was silent for a moment as she gathered her thoughts. “So as you all now know, I’m the one who has the tywyll stone,” she said finally, and everyone nodded. “It’s been in my family since the beginning, and it was my ancestor Arianrhod who locked the Black Fairy’s magic into the stone in the first place. All my life I’ve been raised knowing that I would be the stone’s protector and I never once questioned that. It was my heritage, and it was decreed by the covenants. I never questioned any of it, until recently.” She cast a glance at Killian, who gave her a smile and an encouraging nod. “I also didn’t question the instinct that told me to leave the stone behind when those women took me,” she continued. “The instinct that told me that I couldn’t allow the stone to fall into their hands. It wasn’t until I got back home this afternoon that it occurred to me to wonder why. Why would my instincts react so dramatically when those women were so easy to defeat? It troubled me, and the most troubling thing was that I couldn’t figure out why it was troubling. But now I know. It’s their timing.” 

“Timing?” said Ruby. “What do you mean?”

“Okay,” Emma replied, “here’s the deal, everything I was Shown in the scrying mirror. There are three of them, a mother and two daughters. The mother, Cora, she’s human. She’s got no magic and her knowledge of it seems limited to what’s contained in the standard scrolls—the versions of the histories that are available in any human library. She wouldn’t have access to any of the actual fae histories, and if she raised her daughters among humans it’s unlikely they would either.” 

“Sorry,” said David. “But what do you mean by the actual fae histories?”

“The fae store our history in trees,” explained Emma. “Like the purple willow whose bark gave you your visions. The scrolls tell the broad story, but they hold none of the details you get from seeing the events unfold yourself.” 

“So—all of you have seen these visions?” 

“We’ve all seen a version of them,” said Graham. “The ones involving our own ancestors. But the location of the tywyll stone needed to remain secret, so for obvious reasons we weren’t shown the part involving the trapping of the magic.” 

“But then why was I shown that?” 

“Guardians are all shown what you saw,” Killian replied. “We are all descended from Cynbel, the warrior who captured the Black Fairy’s wand.” 

“What, all of us?” 

“All of us. Cousin.” Killian smirked at him. “Cynbel’s tale is the origin of all Guardians, and so we have the right to see it.” 

“So all Guardians know who has the ti—er, the stone?” 

“Yes, and part of our vows include protecting the secret of its location with our lives.” 

“Everything was always about keeping the stone a secret,” said Emma. “So that even if someone did figure out a way to release the Black Fairy’s magic, they wouldn’t know where to look for it.” 

“But somehow this Cora and her daughters figured out where to look for it,” said Ruby. 

“So it seems. But the thing is they don’t actually know what they’re looking for. They don’t even seem to know that the magic is stored in a stone. They only know it’s stored somewhere, and that I have it.” 

“So then they can’t possibly know how to release it,” Ruby cried. 

“Or how to control it even if they did,” Graham pointed out. 

“That’s what it looks like,” agreed Emma. 

“But then why?” Ruby held up her hands in frustration. “Why would she move against you when she’s so unprepared?” 

“That’s exactly what was troubling me,” said Emma. “It didn’t seem to make any sense. She’s so completely unable to do what she plans and yet she’s so confident. Why? And why did my instincts tell me to do whatever I had to in order to keep the stone out of her hands?” 

“Well?” Ruby prodded. “Why?” 

Just then there came the sound of footsteps in the corridor. The door swung open and Snow appeared, rushing into the room followed by a young woman with long, dark hair and bloody scratches covering a face that wore a look of deep apprehension. 

Emma stiffened and threw up her hands, magic sparking and crackling at her fingertips. “What is she doing here?” she snapped. 

“She’s—” began Snow, but Killian was already on his feet. 

“Who is she?” he demanded. 

“One of the women from the forest,” said Emma, and before the words were even fully out of her mouth, the room whirled in a blur of motion. August leapt from his chair as his eyes flared red and his fangs extended. Ruby and Graham’s bodies twisted, fur sprouting from their skin and claws from their fingers, faces elongating into snouts lined with sharp and dripping teeth. Killian drew his sword so fast it was a blur to David’s eyes as he swung it at the woman, stopping a hair’s breadth from her neck. Even Victor stood tense and ready, fingering a razor-honed scalpel he’d retrieved from the goddess knew where, as madness sparked in his eyes. 

“Stop it,” Snow cried, whirling around as she tried to defend against everyone at once. “She’s here as a friend.” 

“She tried to kill me!” snarled Emma, and Killian pressed the edge of his sword against the woman’s skin. She gasped and blinked as a small line of blood appeared beneath it. 

“I—I didn’t,” she stuttered. “I did my best to save you.” 

“That’s not what it sounded like from where I was standing,” retorted Emma. “Or from where I’d been flung on the ground, to be more precise.” 

“You don’t know my mother.” The woman’s tone, despite the sword at her throat and the snarling wolves and the mad scientist, the witch and the freaking vampire, was dry and heavy with irony, and David found himself impressed despite himself by her aplomb. “It’s… unwise to act directly against her,” she continued. “But she can be influenced by suggestion.” 

David could see the gears begin to turn behind Emma’s eyes as she regarded the woman with a probing stare.

“Killian,” she said quietly, and with no more instruction than this her Guardian lowered his sword, though he remained, David noticed, tense and alert. 

“Stand down, chaps,” he instructed. 

In a flash August’s eyes were blue again and his teeth a more expected length. Ruby and August shifted back to their usual forms, and Victor—well, he still looked mad, but at least he put his scalpel away. 

Emma was frowning thoughtfully at the woman. “Snow,” she said. “Why did you bring her here?” 

“She’s my kin,” replied Snow. “Look.” 

She pulled back the sleeve of her jacket to reveal the image of a tree brach curling around her wrist. David had seen the branch before, many times, but had always taken it for a tattoo. Now, though, he watched as it began to move, to wave as though caught in a summer’s breeze, and a bird appeared from out of nowhere to perch upon it. The woman pulled up her own sleeve to reveal the same branch and a very similar bird, and when the two women held their wrists together their branches intertwined and the birds began to sing. 

“Llwyth daear,” said Emma. “Earth tribe. I suppose I should have seen that.” 

“You had other things on your mind,” said Snow. “But I saw it right away. Regina is my uncle’s daughter. My uncle who left the tribe when he fell in love with a human woman. We never heard from him again.” 

“He died,” said the woman—Regina—shortly. 

“Oh.” Snow’s fingers reached out to curl around Regina’s. “I’m sorry.” 

Regina smiled. “Thank you.” 

“Well this is a touching reunion,” drawled August. “But it doesn’t explain why you brought her back here.” 

“For the information, of course,” said Emma, fixing Regina with a pointed look. “She’s here to tell us all about her mother. Aren’t you, Regina.” 

Regina nodded. “I am.” 

— 

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 8.27 (after 1920)

1922 – Greco-Turkish War: The Turkish army takes the Aegean city of Afyonkarahisar from the Kingdom of Greece. 1927 – Five Canadian women file a petition to the Supreme Court of Canada, asking: "Does the word 'Persons' in Section 24 of the British North America Act, 1867, include female persons?" 1928 – The Kellogg–Briand Pact outlawing war is signed by fifteen nations. Ultimately sixty-one nations will sign it. 1933 – The first Afrikaans Bible is introduced during a Bible Festival in Bloemfontein. 1939 – First flight of the turbojet-powered Heinkel He 178, the world's first jet aircraft. 1942 – First day of the Sarny Massacre, perpetrated by Germans and Ukrainians. 1943 – World War II: Japanese forces evacuate New Georgia Island in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II. 1943 – World War II: Aerial bombardment by the Luftwaffe razes to the ground the village of Vorizia in Crete. 1955 – The first edition of the Guinness Book of Records is published in Great Britain. 1956 – The nuclear power station at Calder Hall in the United Kingdom was connected to the national power grid becoming the world's first commercial nuclear power station to generate electricity on an industrial scale. 1962 – The Mariner 2 unmanned space mission is launched to Venus by NASA. 1963 – An explosion at the Cane Creek potash mine near Moab, Utah kills 18 miners. 1964 – South Vietnamese junta leader Nguyễn Khánh enters into a triumvirate power-sharing arrangement with rival generals Trần Thiện Khiêm and Dương Văn Minh, who had both been involved in plots to unseat Khánh. 1971 – An attempted coup d'état fails in the African nation of Chad. The Government of Chad accuses Egypt of playing a role in the attempt and breaks off diplomatic relations. 1975 – The Governor of Portuguese Timor abandons its capital, Dili, and flees to Atauro Island, leaving control to a rebel group. 1979 – The Troubles: Eighteen British soldiers are killed in an ambush by the Provisional Irish Republican Army near Warrenpoint, Northern Ireland, in the deadliest attack on British forces during Operation Banner. An IRA bomb also kills British royal family member Lord Mountbatten and three others on his boat at Mullaghmore, Republic of Ireland. 1980 – South Korean presidential election: After successfully staging the Coup d'état of May Seventeenth, General Chun Doo-hwan, running unopposed, has the National Conference for Unification elect him President of the Fourth Republic of Korea. 1982 – Turkish military diplomat Colonel Atilla Altıkat is shot and killed in Ottawa. Justice Commandos of the Armenian Genocide claim to be avenging the massacre of 1+1⁄2 million Armenians in the 1915 Armenian genocide. 1985 – Major General Muhammadu Buhari, Chairman of the Supreme Military Council of Nigeria, is ousted from power in a coup d'état led by Major General Ibrahim Babangida. 1985 – Space Shuttle Discovery is launched on STS-51-I to deploy three communication satellites and repair a fourth malfunctioning one. 1991 – The European Community recognizes the independence of the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. 1991 – Moldova declares independence from the USSR. 1992 – Aeroflot Flight 2808 crashes on approach to Ivanovo Yuzhny Airport, killing all 84 aboard. 2003 – Mars makes its closest approach to Earth in nearly 60,000 years, passing 34,646,418 miles (55,758,005 km) distant. 2003 – The first six-party talks, involving South and North Korea, the United States, China, Japan and Russia, convene to find a peaceful resolution to the security concerns of the North Korean nuclear weapons program. 2006 – Comair Flight 5191 crashes on takeoff from Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky, bound for Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta. Of the passengers and crew, 49 of 50 are confirmed dead in the hours following the crash. 2011 – Hurricane Irene strikes the United States east coast, killing 47 and causing an estimated $15.6 billion in damage.