#saw xi leaks

[redscrawl]

Saw 11 leak????? Adam alive reveal?? Lawrence Gordon returns??

[madame-mortician]

SAW XI GOT DELAYED TIL NEXT YEAR :(

[radmule]

To end evening on bit depressing note, looks like Saw XI *might* be getting cancelled.

-Not wanting to start a fire over this, as it's *just* a picture from Saw X and not any clear statement, but the teases of the film's cancellation have been here for some while. I'l share some thoughts but please, nothing definitive has been announced, don't take my words too seriously.

Those who are active on r/saw might've noticed recent posts from trusted insider about bad blood between M&O lately, which caused XI's production to be completly halted, with none preproduction (not even a script) being worked on for long time. Alot of it is pretty vague, but supposedly they are fighting over future of the franchise, who's going to own in and whenever it wouldn't be better to sell it. If these 'leaks' are indeed true and they didn't come to any agreement, then the franchise is cooked, for good.

-Even if they decide to sell the brand, Saw isn't that much of a lucrative looking franchise at the moment. Reboots have been attempted in the past and none of them were succesful, and with the original actors aging, no "new blood" fan-popular characters existing, there doesn't seem to be much room for what could be done with the brand that could make profit. And if they would consider to continue with XI, who knows if they would be as considerate to keep the "old team" and give them enough space. And then, what else? How could the brand produce more money?

One must hope this is not IT. Perhaps it's just gonna get delayed, something, anything. Crazy person's wishes, right. I just wish the best for the people who love these movies, and also for those who work on them and put the heart into wanting to continue on XI. This would be devastating.

[clockwork-ashes]

All You Have Is Your Fire - Part X

Find Part I here :)

Summary: 'I can hear your heart beating through the stone.' For the briefest of moments, Lucien wondered if his mate would know exactly when his heart’s steady rhythm came to a sudden stop.

Note: A huge thank you to the lovely @bettdraws who deserves all the credit for the post that inspired me to start writing this :) Another huge thank you to everyone reading! ALSO please look at this post, I gasped it's so lovely. All of @teddyhoneybear's moodboards are stunning <3

Tag List: @anishake / @nocasdatsgay / @mybestfriendmademe / @talibunny30 / @halfbutneverwhole / @wishfulimaginings / @goldenmagnolias / @emmers-bens123 /

Part XI >>

Elain had not slept well. 

Once again she had taken to sleeping curled up on the armchair by the fireplace in the suite she shared with Lucien. Elain could still feel the ghost of his defeat as she practically forced him to take the bed for the second night in a row, this time for entirely different reasons. 

When they had returned from the library, without Cora to break their awkward silence, Lucien had quietly asked Elain whether she wanted to sleep more comfortably. He correctly guessed that she had had a restless night, considering the events of the last couple of days. 

Elain found Lucien’s genuine concern charming. Had she not felt his muted emotions so strongly, she would have accused him of feigning such kindness. 

Elain was not shy when it came to politely slighting men she did not care for, a skill she had learned in the ballrooms of her childhood and had carefully honed as an adult. When it came to Lucien, Elain could admit that he had suffered her forced indifference for years without so much as the slightest bend on her part. 

Elain’s mind had been entirely made up with regards to the man the fates had seen fit to curse her with. She did not want a mate, and so she would go about her life as if Lucien Vanserra did not exist. 

Elain’s decision was always infinitely more difficult when Lucien was near, his scent lingered in the air of every room he stepped into, sweet apples and summer mornings. Elain would have taken the bed had she not been gripped with horror at the awful realisation that the sheets, the pillows, would smell as he did. 

Elain knew it would have driven her mad, and so she lifted her chin and set her jaw before she practically ordered that Lucien take the bed. Much to Elain’s surprise, he did not argue, but she could feel a steady sadness leaking down their shared bond. 

Elain had slept fitfully, but at least no dreams had plagued her, and for that she was thankful. 

As Elain beheld her reflection in the towering mirror, she was also thankful that despite her restless night, she looked as lovely and refreshed as ever. 

Elain still tended to avoid mirrors. The faerie she now saw resembled the woman she had been before, disconcerting in their similarities and yet unsettling in their differences. Elain would not have recognized herself in passing. She saw the way her lips tugged down at the corners, misery marred her expression, beautiful despite it.

“Autumn’s colours suit you, Elain Archeron of Night.” If Eris saw the tightness around her mouth, he did not mention it. Elain watched the way his amber eyes flashed in amusement through the mirror’s reflection. 

Even Elain could admit that Eris was right, the deep emerald colour of her gown matched well with her dark eyes. The golden details along the sleeves shone as bright as some of the sun bleached curls Cora had so carefully pinned back for her, the column of her neck exposed. The corset Cora had laced for Elain was comfortable, her breaths easy, heavy skirts fell to the floor, hiding slippers made from the same fabric. 

“You could be a queen,” Cora said sincerely, nodding in agreement with Eris’s statement. “All you’re missing is a crown.” 

Elain hoped that the High Lord of Autumn would think the same. She was nervous, her own anxiety mixing with Lucien’s as the time passed slowly and they both began to get ready separately for the welcome Beron had planned for the son he had exiled. 

Elain prayed that attending balls in the Hewn City had prepared her for the long evening ahead, and hoped that she could muster Feyre’s confidence and the smallest bit of Nesta’s poise. She found herself missing her sisters desperately. She missed Cassian, Rhysand, Azriel and his quiet but friendly presence. She missed Nyx most of all, discouraged without her family’s steady and constant support and love. 

Elain tore her gaze from the mirror, no longer able to bear the sight. “Thank you for all the help,” she said rather weakly, hoping her smile looked genuine as she faced her lady’s maid. 

Cora would also be joining the celebrations, and Elain was infinitely grateful for the other woman’s willingness to remain by her side. She wondered what Cora had said to Eris to convince him so easily that she should be present, but Elain quickly pushed the thought aside, promising to herself that she would bring it up when they were alone. 

“Do yourself, and those forced to be in your presence, a favour, Elain,” Eris continued, stepping so close she could see every sparkling diamond along the arch of his ear. “Never wear Night Court colours again, they drain you of all life.” 

Elain looked up at Eris briefly, fighting the childlike urge to cross her arms at him. She focused on straightening her skirts, her movements elegant. “I think that’s just your presence,” Elain mumbled, the words low enough she could deny them if they had offended the arrogant prince. 

Cora and Elain shared a surprised glance at the amused breath Eris released, not quite a laugh, but certainly charmed. She could have sworn that one corner of his mouth tilted up in the smallest of smiles, a glimmer of joy in his usually empty eyes. Had Elain blinked, she would have missed it. 

Elain noticed the way Cora’s dark eyes remained on the Autumn heir longer than usual, as her gaze slowly took him in. He was handsome, Elain supposed, in the strange way that the High Fae so often were. 

“No crown for you just yet, Elain,” expression once again serious, Eris lifted his hands just slightly, pale palms up. For an awkward moment, Elain wondered if she was supposed to do the same. Elain jumped, startled, when Eris summoned a small wooden box from thin air into his ready hands.  

The rubies on the ring’s of each of Eris’s fingers flashed in the light of the setting sun as he handed Elain the box carefully. She had not known what to expect, but she could not help the surprised parting of her lips as she opened the lid. 

Elain traced the stunning comb, the gold shining, the metal looked as though it had just been polished. Shaped like the branch of a tree, little pearls were evenly placed between the small leaves. “This is…” Elain truly had no words, the accessory was so lovely, she went to lift the comb from the box, but Eris clicked his tongue in warning. 

“Careful of the teeth, you’ll find they happen to be much sharper than expected.” 

Elain paused, eyes flicking to Eris before she lifted the comb from its case. “A weapon?” she asked, disbelief in her tone. 

Eris shrugged, the wine red fabric of his jacket straining with the motion. “I don’t suppose they taught you how to handle a dagger in the Night Court?” Elain shook her head at him, and he did not seem surprised by her admission. With a wave of his hand, the case disappeared and Elain was left with just the comb in her hand. “Then this is better, should someone bother you, aim for the eyes.” 

Elain’s own eyes widened at the thought. “Do you – I mean, is it likely that I would need this at all?” She was uncomfortable with the suggestion that she might need to fight someone. If Eris had hoped to settle her nerves, he was achieving the opposite.

Eris raised an auburn brow, scowling as he responded. “You’re not in the City of Starlight anymore, Elain. I’ll tell you now and you would do well to remember this piece of advice for the remainder of your stay in Autumn. Be armed always.” 

Elain felt her panic as it choked her. She merely nodded, knowing that if she spoke her voice would have been small with fear. 

“Don’t worry,” Cora interjected, rushing to reassure Elain. “Lucien will be with you at all times, I doubt any harm would come to us with him by our side.” 

“I doubt you, too, would need Lucien’s protection, considering you’ve been armed to the teeth since you stepped foot onto these lands,” Eris clipped. 

Cora cast a withering glare at Eris, tension in her shoulders at his sharp tone. “I don’t know what you mean.” 

Elain still held the comb in her hand, her gaze flicking between the two, wondering if Eris would send the other woman home if he was always so annoyed with her presence. 

“I don’t even fault you for it,” Eris offered, his voice quiet and measured, but his eyes assessed Cora’s stance closely. “I just wonder how a lady’s maid from the Hewn City got her lovely hands on blades of Illyrian steel.” 

Elain watched as Cora opened her mouth, ready to respond, but at the quick knock on the door, everyone seemed to pause.

“Elain?” Lucien’s deep voice was muffled by the thick oak separating them. Elain was relieved that her mate had arrived. “Are you ready?” He asked. 

Cora and Eris were still locked in a silent battle, glaring at each other. If Elain had known Eris better, she might have even said that he looked pleased with himself. “Come in,” Elain called.

Again Lucien chose to winnow into the room, his presence overwhelming. When Elain was not near her mate, it was easier to ignore the bond. The only problem, Elain had noticed, was that once they shared the same space, warring feelings crashed over her like a wave. 

You are mine.

The thought was so jarring, and yet Elain could admit that it was not as troubling as it had been at the beginning, during the war with Hybern and the months that followed. Elain was captivated by him, the bond demanding that she pay attention every time he walked into a room despite her best efforts. 

Elain wondered if she would have felt the same without the bond connecting her to Lucien. 

Elain thought her mate was beautiful. His dark red hair fell loosely around his face, golden eye clicking into place as the russet one fell on her. She watched as Lucien took a sharp breath, as he stopped moving entirely. Elain took a step back, knocking into Eris. 

The action was enough for Lucien to shake his head, for her to refocus. Elain took in Lucien’s attire to distract herself. She started with Lucien’s tall riding boots, brown pants hugged his thighs. Elain felt herself blush as she quickly looked at his jacket, an emerald green the same colour as her gown. 

Lucien bent just slightly at the waist in greeting. “You look beautiful.” 

Elain could not look away from him, at the way his lips curled up into a knowing smile. 

You are mine.

Eris cleared his throat and Elain waved her hand awkwardly in Lucien’s general direction. “So do you,” Elain said. As soon as the words left her mouth, Elain found herself wishing she could throw herself into a lake and simply sink to the bottom for all of eternity. 

Elain looked to Cora, mortified, but the other woman flashed Elain an encouraging grin. Elain felt the tips of her pointed ears heat. 

Lucien politely pretended not to notice, stepping further into the room. He might have said something had Eris not. “I should leave,” he announced, his amber gaze going from Lucien to Cora. “You should join me.” The tone of his voice suggested he would not be accepting no for an answer. 

“Is the heir of the Autumn Court going to escort me to the ballroom?” Cora asked innocently. 

Eris shrugged, the gesture lazy, “I usually escort nobles.” He tilted his head in a manner that reminded Elain of a wolf observing prey, offering Cora his arm like any good gentleman ought to do. “Consider yourself lucky that my exceedingly high standards have miraculously lowered for the evening.” 

To Elain’s surprise, Cora took hold of Eris, her eyes never leaving his. “Watch yourself, prince, lest someone think you’re doing me a kindness.” 

Elain looked at them both and she knew Lucien was doing the same. Without warning, Eris winnowed him and Cora from the room, sparks scattering in the empty space where they had been. 

Elain was left alone with Lucien, all thoughts of Eris and Cora pushed from her mind as she took him in once more. He was so unbelievably handsome, Elain felt her heart skip several beats. 

“I guess…” Lucien started, looking at Elain only for a moment before he turned his attention to a point past her head. “I think we should follow them.” 

Elain nodded, taking a few careful steps towards her mate, wondering if Lucien would winnow them as well, or if they would walk the maze-like halls of the Forest House together. She looked up at him, glad that at least she would have him to help her navigate the event. 

Despite it all, Elain trusted Lucien with her life. As she lifted a hand to reach for him, Elain finally remembered the stunning comb, still held tightly between her fingers. 

“Help me with my hair first?” Elain did not know what possessed her to speak, but she regretted the words instantly. 

Elain saw apprehension cloud Lucien’s features, but he hummed in response. “Of course.”

“It’s sharp,” Elain warned as she placed the accessory in Lucien’s open hand. As their fingers brushed, she held her breath. 

Gently, as though she were made of glass, Lucien tilted her head. Careful of the comb’s teeth, Lucien delicately set it near some of the pin’s already holding Elain’s curls in place. 

The whole world seemed to stop, and only that moment seemed to matter. 

“Lovely,” Lucien murmured, his hands dropping to his side. 

A spell broken, Elain felt like she could breathe again. The sound of Lucien’s voice ringing, soft like wind chimes, clashed with the one thought Elain could not shake from her mind. 

You are mine.

[dearest-marv]

saw xi script leaks of what happens to hoffman !!!!

sorry in advance

[fascinationstreetmp3]

leaked saw xi scene

lawrence: amanda can you help me with th

amanda:

[gallyg]

All the leaked details about Saw XI suggests it will take place in a women's prison, and boy howdy, this would be the perfect opportunity for them to finally make Jigsaw a transphobe like I've been asking for since I started transitioning.

[unitedbydevils]

A dressing room leakier than Old Trafford's roof: why fans must ignore the nonsense

Another day of drama for Manchester United. Another day of ridiculous media coverage because guess which club has the biggest news pull.. that's right, it's the (temporarily not so) mighty reds.

Unity is needed to fix our poor form, but I think an inquisition is needed to root out the leakers because it's boring. Years of shit being passed out from Carrington like it's a paper note in a classroom. Grow up.

Does Erik Ten Hag have favourites? Perhaps. Does this mean you should down tools? Absolutely not. The attitude here forgets several things:

You are an asset in of yourself. If you give up, other teams notice. This will lessen your value for a sale.

It also reduces your personal growth as a player. 6 months of not trying might have been the period where you level up your skill set and playstyle.

Football is a game of small margins. Anything less than your best could be the difference between a salvaged point and a painful defeat.

The rumoured leakers are obvious: Sancho, Maguire, McTominay, and maybe Donny Van de Beek (I doubt this last one). Henderson was also rumoured to be leaking before, as was Eric Bailly. Disgruntled players are the obvious suspects, and normally it's correct.

Roy Keane, seen here on Sky Sports, has the right take: players are failing to take responsibility for their poor performances, and are giving up too easily. Could ETH make better subs or quicker tactical changes? Sure. But it's his second season, having finished 3rd, won the League Cup, and reached the FA Cup final, all with Weghorst up front for crying out loud. Give the man a chance, believe in his plans. We can't keep cycling through managers. United will just be a graveyard for talent and a money pit.

The latest 'leak' or drama is about David De Gea's departure. People have short memories. He was a good goalkeeper, and kept United alive for many shitty seasons, but his last few years saw his shot stopping - the star attribute - fall off in terms of stats and success. This is an issue. Onana is a solid replacement for the keeping metrics, but with great feet to help play out from the back.

Our current form isn't derived from Onana playing badly. It's derived from an injured Varane showing the gulf of skill between him and Lindelof, and how important Varane is to getting the best out of Lissandro Martinez. Hence the need for Kim Min Jae in the summer.

Beyond that, Eriksen starting games at 31 with a heart condition. What the fuck. Casemiro looks overweight and slow and needs to be eased in to the season. Last year he played more games in the season than he EVER did at Madrid. Ever. They're playing though because Mount, Amrabat, Mainoo are all injured. All three would be playing if they were fit. They might all feature tomorrow versus Burnley, and they'll make a huge difference going forward.

The media is to blame as much as the players though. The Daily Mail published an article about Onana dropping his car keys. How is that journalism? The same goes for Samuel Luckhurst, seen above. There's a lot of stirring the pot to cause drama, to generate clicks.

The reality is that people shouldn't be taking the Manchester Evening News (M.E.N) seriously because they're clickbait these days. The death of local/regional news; clamouring for clicks and views rather than offering actual substance and building loyalty and respect.

United are in a rough spot, and perhaps this poor start means we fail to make the top 4 this season, but if - in the grand scheme of things - Ten Hag gets United playing the way he wants to then so be it. I want us fixed, and I'm willing to back this manager to get it done. If everyone was pulling the same way, trying, and it just wasn't working then fair dos, Erik might not be the man, but no. He hasn't had his preferred first XI. He hasn't had players properly trying. He's had issues with leaks, player insubordination, scandals off the field, and the takeover farse.

There are better managers, but I guarantee they cannot be arsed with United and the Glazers. Lets get behind Ten Hag, back his authority, lose the dregs and crybabies, and see what we can achieve with a committed squad of battlers and ballers. Up the reds.

[shoukokunoaltairfans]

Battle of Pločnik ( Pantellaria ) ( 15/12/78 )

Balkans and Europe Geopolitics situation at the end of 78 CTR.

The Battle of Plocnik, also known as the Battle of Pantellaria Field, took place on 15 Cay, 78 CTR, in the village of Plonik, Balt region (now Serbia). The army of the Turkiye Stratocracy led by Tughril Mahmut Pasha, the masterpiece commander in the conquest of Sud Rumelia, defeated the Balt Rhein forces led by Theo Androch. This war became the beginning of the second Balt Rhein-Turkiye conflict and the beginning of the Stratocracy's conquest operations in Western Rumelia.

Background

The political and military progress of the Balt Rhein Empire suffered a setback in 77 CTR. After the neighboring state, the Turkiye Stratocracy carried out major reforms in the state, led by Zehir Zaganos. and was able to score a victory in the conquest of Sud, as well as repel the imperial invasion of Muchever in early 78 CTR. The ministers and dukes of the Empire saw that the time had come for a peace treaty. especially the faction of Minister Eisntein, who had seen signs of weakness in the country. although the pro-war faction of Prime Minister Virigillio Louis's faction denounced him as a fool and continued to push for war (believing their war would have the support of the Vatican Pope and the European Crusader alliance). King GoldeBalt XI, favoring peace, produced the Treaty of Florence, signed on 30 Lale, 78 CTR.

Teritory of Turkiye and Balt Rhein that is agreed upon Treaty of Florence.

Prime Minister Louis rejected this peace treaty and insisted on persuading both GoldeBalt and the ministers to cancel it. but he was unable to do anything. In particular, his influence in the Empire began to decline as a direct result of losing the war. He began to look for excuses and use his power in the state to start the war once again. Louis secretly invited Bey of  Karaman Karamanoglu Ibrahim II to a banquet and formed a secret alliance against Turkiye. The Emirate of Karaman was a Turkoman state in Anatolia that was also a bitter enemy of Turkiye.

Karaman State

Ibrahim II targeted the Zaganos Pasha army convoy, which was on its way back to Constantinople after the conquest of Trebizond. and devises a plan to kill him as per his deal with the Empire. However, this plan leaked into Zaganos' ears via his Goz Kulak. Swiftly, Zaganos accelerated his march and attacked the border town of Karaman, Ak Hisar, at the beginning of the month of Seker. This sudden attack terrified Ibrahim. Thinking that this time the Turkiye troops would conquer his country, coupled with the fact that the Balt Rhein reinforcements did not come, Ibrahim felt that he had been deceived and betrayed. decided to renew his peace treaty with Zaganos. Louis' plan to end the life of Zaganos failed.

After the incident, Zaganos Pasha accused Balt Rhein of plotting his assassination along with Bey Karaman. Even the imperial envoy appeared under the wrong circumstances; while Zaganos was in Akhisar, the empire demanded an increase in the amount of tribute that Turkiye paid for his territory in the Sud (according to the clauses of the Treaty of Florence) by 60,000 ducats from 30,000 ducats. Zaganos Pasha rejected the demands. Seeing that the Balt Rhein was playing around with the clauses of the Treaty of Florence, Zaganos decided to stop paying tribute. These two incidents have restarted tensions between the two countries.

In the political conditions of the palace of St. Michael himself, the minister Louis tried to gather his faction's supporters and get rid of any group that opposed his policies. He saw the Einstein faction as an obstacle to him realizing his cunning imperialist ambitions. Because of that, he conspired before King Goldebalt IX, laying down false evidence and suspicions that Einstein had committed corruption and even carrying out a coup d'état within the palace. It's a shame that GoldeBalt is an impressionable person and doesn't have a firm mind. He decided to hang Einstein and his family in the month of Biber, 78 CTR. Thus, Minister Louis became the absolute holder of state power, representing the king without any faction opposing him.

minister Einstein, from Anti War Faction, He was hanged by GoldeBalt in mid-78 CTR.

Zaganos Pasha continues to monitor the situation of the Balt Rhein based on the increasingly suspicious reports of his Goz Kulaks. The spy reports said Imperial envoys had spread throughout Europe. to form a new crusader movement against Turkiye. In the month of Ak Koyunlu, according to the latest reports from Goz Kulak, Balt Rhein troops began to mobilize from the capital as well as most of the Rhein and Balt provinces. This action clearly violated the Peace Treaty of Florence. and restarted the second round of the Balt-Rhein-Turkiye war.

Preparations

The Balt Rhein, in total, numbered 200,000 Soldiers. 50,000 of them were heavy cavalry troops under Hermaan, who was famous for being tough in Europe at that time. (According to Franz Babinger, the number is 40,000.) The Balt Rhein troops were mostly spearheaded and still used the Phalanx formation in their military. accompanied by a Pike and Shot formation. This troop is accompanied by 16–40 ballistas. The top commander in this force is Theo Androsch, a veteran commander who took part in the Turkiye invasion 15 years ago. Hermaan's cavalrymen were led by Siegfried Kaufmaann and Jacques Jourdainn. Andreas Palatine led the right-wing troops; the left-wing was led by Simon Dominis, and the artillery force (ballistae) was commanded by General Barrett.

Minister Louis hoped for reinforcements from Europe and the Pope. but apparently he was blind to the complicated political conditions there. The Habsburgs were in conflict with the Pope on religious and political issues, which led to war between the two. The Pope preferred that the crusader coalition be directed towards Germany rather than the Balkans. The 100-year war between England and France still hasn't died down. As for Hungary, being a neighboring country to the Balt Rhein, it was willing to send troops and supplies, but that never materialized. Gabor Agoston stated that Mathias Corvinus had a personal grudge against the Balt Rhein because of internal conflict problems that befell both of their troops during the first Crusader invasion of Sud in 77 CTR, which made him abandon the plan. Moldavia was busy at war with the Crimean Khan over Ochakov and Jedisan. and Poland was busy at war with the Despotate of Moscow. As a result, the Balt Rhein was literally forced to fight alone at the start of this conflict. However, some volunteers from Cyprus, Rhodes, and Genoa also sent aid to St. Michael in small numbers, which had no effect whatsoever. where they are just an army of adventurers trying to find money and loot.

deems that war cannot be avoided, and after receiving a fatwa from Molla Gurani, who decided to fight the Balt Rhein and invade the country because it always disturbs the country's sovereignty and threatens religion and the lives of Muslims, Turkiye makes combat preparations. Their troop numbers are around 150,000 Soldiers. 50,000 of them were cavalrymen from heavy classes such as sipahi and akinji (archer-class light cavalry troops). These troops were equipped with Matchlock musket armament, consisting of 15,000 Janissary Muzrak musketeers. led by Bayazit Pasha (Beylerbey Muzrak). and 350 Cannons. Tughril Mahmut Pasha was reappointed as commander of the main army. remembering the feat of victory he achieved in the Sud conquest operation. Karamanli Ishaq Pasha led the right flank troops, and Lala Syahin and Sahabettin Syahin led the left flank troops in two different formations.

The Turkish Matchlock musket, during the Balt Rhein-Türkiye war, was modified from the Tibetan Musket that had entered the muzrak in 75 CTR. This musket design was created by Muslihittin Reis and mass-produced by order of Zaganos Pasha in late 76 CTR.

Muzrak Janissary

there was no minor conflict on the border between the two countries until entering the month of Cay. on the 6th, the Balt Rhein in large numbers had left the capital. while Turkiye's troops left Istanbul 4 days later, following the routes of Edirne, Tarnovo and Hisar and then crossing the border. The Balt Rhein troops have arrived on the plains of Pantellaria adjacent to the village of Plocnik which will later become a battlefield. all the commanders in chief were gathered in the evening of the 12th. Jacques as commander in chief Hermann urged Androsch to first attack the Turkish troops before they got ready. however, Androsch thought otherwise by choosing the plains of Pantellaria as a suitable terrain for formulating formations and strategies. besides the Balt Rhein troops benefited that they were fighting on a field that was familiar to them.

Battlefield Location

On the 14th, the Balt Rhein troops encamped as planned at Plocnik while preparing to meet the enemy. Like the general arrangement of troops in that era, Androsch divided his army into three parts. right wing, left wing, and core troops led by himself. Androsch placed Hermann's Cavalry in the rear as an ambush in case the enemy attempted to flee. However, this plan was roundly rejected by the majority of the soldiers. Instead, they want to be placed in the front row, which will advance first to tear apart the formation of the Turkish troops. 40 ballistae were installed in the infantry rear formation in order to prevent the encirclement of the Turkish cavalry troops.

Turkish troops arrived at Plocnik in the early morning of the 15th. Mahmut Pasha arranged the Janissary troop formation in a crescent formation and joined all the army wings to the core troops. As for the cavalry troops, consisting of Akinji and Sipahi, they were at the forefront of welcoming the enemy's attack. Mahmut Pasha ordered the artillery to be placed in the center of the formation.

Battle

battle scheme of Pantellaria 15 Cay 78 CTR.

The Turkish troops only arrived in Pantellaria in the early hours of the 15th and were still organizing their battle preparations until midday. Jacques and Siegfried took advantage of this opportunity to launch a surprise attack. Without waiting for Androch's order, the Hermaan troops shouted "Deus Veult" and immediately started the battle. The Turkish troops were surprised by this sudden attack. Mahmut Pasha ordered the Sipahi and Akinji cavalry to block the Hermaan troops behind the core troop formation. However, the Sipahi cavalry were not as heavy and tough as the Hermaan troops. As a result, the Sipahi troops disintegrated, and many victims fell in the first attack.

Unable to resist the onslaught of the Hermaan Cavalry, Hasan Ulubat ordered the Sipahi troops to retreat while asking the Akinjis troops to shoot arrows. However, the thick armor protected Hermaan's entire army and did not cause any fatal injuries. Hermaan's troops were increasingly convinced that victory was in sight, and they continued to break through the Turkish army's center formation. Janisarry troops, accompanied by artillery troops, were ready to confront the enemy. Turkiye artillery troops fired simultaneously, followed by Musketeer troops from Janisarry Muzrak (Volley Fire). Hermaan's troop movement stopped, and this time it was the turn of the main troop from the Stratocracy janissaries (those holding the red banners) to launch a counterattack with pike and shot formations. Hermaan's troops try to keep advancing, but a barrage of artillery and musketeer attacks results in heavy casualties. In this battle, Jacques, one of the commanders of the Hermaan troops, died after being stabbed many times by hundreds of Janissary spearmen.

The Morality of Hermaan's Troops Weakens. and his attacks began to slack off. The Janissaries swiftly surrounded the Hermaan troops in wolf trap formations and surrounded them. At the same time, the cavalry led by Hasan Ulubat, who had retreated, regrouped their ranks and turned back to attack the Hermaan troops. Simon Dominis and Andreas began moving troops right and left to save Hermaan, but Sahabettin and Ishaq Pasha advanced with their 20,000 Janissaries and were able to repulse the Balt Rhein advance. Siegfried, who began to realize the precarious situation and Jacques' death, decided to withdraw his soldiers, and most of Hermaan fled into the middle of the forest.

Androsch decided to change his entire war strategy and take a defensive position against the next Turkish attack. The cavalry turned to the right and rear of the Balt Rhein. However, they were met by a fence of Balistae fire and pike and shot formation, temporarily driving them back. In order to tear apart the Balt Rhein mobile fortress formation, Artillery troops were positioned all over the flanks of the enemy troops and fired at them. causing the Phalanx's formation to break down and disintegrate. After a series of cannon fires, the janissaries immediately plunged into slaughtering the remaining Balt Rhein troops. The Balt-Rhein troops panicked and started to flee from the battlefield. with huge losses and casualties. The battle arc lasts 8 hours. After the battle, Mahmut Pasha encamped temporarily at Plocnik while sending out his small detachment of troops to capture scattered infantry, or hermaans.

Aftermath

The Balt Rhein were unable to put up any further resistance to the Turkiye after this war, preferring to take defensive positions by taking cover in their strongholds or engaging in guerrilla warfare, as Gralat and Lelederik had done in other engagements. This war became the Balt Rhein's biggest disastrous military defeat in their history, before the Battle of the Arch. For the first time, the Balt Rhein Troops were surprised by the superiority of the Turkiye cannon and firearms, which were used en masse in field battles. Cannons and muskets have been known in Europe for a long time. However, no one was able to surpass its use except for Turkiye at that time. This defeat, at the same time, showed the decline and weakness of the Empire in its truest sense. and the ineffectiveness of their strategy, especially the use of Phalanx and mobile fortress formations, which had actually been out of use in that era. because at that time the troops mobilization in fast and light motion got more priority.

The losses suffered by the Balt Rhein after the war were enormous. around 90,000 troops, including 20,000 Hermaan Cavalrymen. 14 commanders and 4 Counts, including Androsch and Jacques, died during the battle. Casualties for the Turkiye troops were relatively light. at least between 4000 and 7000 troops. There was no reported number of enemy troops taken prisoner after the battle. However, Turkiye troops were able to capture some stragglers among Hermaan troops who had fled in this battle.

15 days after the battle, on the 30th, Tughril Mahmut advanced to lay siege to Gol City, the old capital of the Balt Rhein Empire. without any obstacles standing in his way. Even though it is known as a big city, with its strong fortifications, the Turkiye troops were able to control it in just six hours. The fall of Gol City directly threatened the capital of St. Michael, which is only about 95 kilometers away. Gol's fall caused panic and commotion both in society and within the elite palace. Minister Louis, as the mastermind behind the outbreak of war, tried to gather the number of soldiers who remained and repeatedly sent ambassadors to Europe asking for help. However, there were no significant results.

the location of Gol City, the capital, as well as the embryo of the birth of the Balt Rhein Empire.

Stratocracy of Turkiye Teritorial after Battle of Pantellaria

[ultramantr1gger]

Leaked Saw XI trap

you will eat the penis shaped chili filled chocolate or i will blow you to smithereens

[vancula]

saw xi leaked

[sixteenthshen]

post-finale stuff

Possible spoilers. Beware

Last night, I happened to check the scriptwriter's Weibo and saw that she had liked this fan's post. It's the only non-work related Weibo post that she had liked, so of course, I went to read it. 

The fact that this is the only fan post she's given her approval to must mean that it is on point and she agrees with the characterisation. I thought it's pretty good, so I've gone ahead to translate it here. I own 0 rights to this. I just thought it's a good perspective that may help others like me who struggled with the ending. 

I think I've mostly made my peace with it now, and to sum it up:

Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean they don't love you with all that they are. 

A-Xu never once blamed Lao Wen for how things turned out because he understood that. And he’s clearly a better person than I am (lol).

Let me be clear about my stand - the real victim of how the drama unfolded in the last six episodes is WKX. When we feel our hearts ache for ZZS, it's because the show let down WKX (the character). If your heart is only hurting for WKX during episodes 33-34, you should try to ship WKX with someone else, ok? If you think the last six episodes were great and that WKX was very romantic (and only romantic), then I honestly don't know what to say. 

I ship wenzhou. That means I like both Wen Kexing and Zhou Zishu. I want them to love each other, be good to each other and live happily ever after. And I want them not to be OOC. 

The rest behind the cut. Spoilers for the whole drama. 

------- 

First, the source. Here is a link to that Weibo post, by 爱吐槽的栗小姐. I will delete this if requested by the OP - because this is really in a grey area imo. But I think the intention of a public post is for it to be shared? (especially something like this, which argues a point) 

Secondly, the poster does try to be fair in her post, but as the problem here is WKX's ruined characterisation, ZZS's character is analysed primarily concerning this issue only. There's quite a bit left to ZZS's character and backstory that isn't relevant. I believe that's why the post doesn't elaborate on it, or so I hope.

-------

Ever since WKX faked his death, I received three to four waves of fellow sister fans' mournful wails: "Lao Wen actually faked his death; does he have a heart?" "They were supposed to be of the same heart and treat each other with honesty. How did they regress?" "What happened to their innate soulmate-ness?" "Why does A-Xu always say to face things together, yet Lao Wen always keeps his plans from him?" "A-Xu loves Lao Wen, yet Lao Wen only loves himself"…….

Wait. What have you guys misunderstood about the meaning of soulmates? 

Soulmates are about values, but a person's behaviour… that's methodology FFS! 

(Do they no longer teach this in political affairs class in high school anymore?) 

Wenzhou, these soulmates, are incomparably compatible and mesh well in terms of values. According to the scriptwriter, the entire jianghu wants and tries to get the pieces of Glazed Armour, save the two of them. Not only do they not care for the peerless martial arts, immense power, nor the massive wealth that the Glazed Armour represents, they don't even care for the power they hold in their hands –Ghost Valley and the Window of Heaven. Both of them willing to give it up without a second thought. 

Before they met each other, they were so tired of (ZZS) and so angry at (WKX) this earthly world that they didn't even want to live on anymore. 

After they met each other, they gradually began to feel the warmth in this world again. How nice it would be if they could live in seclusion, hand in hand and just bask in the sun. 

In this world, where everyone else is fighting for power or wealth, they are true soulmates. To intelligent people like them, whether or not they're honest about their identities or secrets is merely a matter of formality. They had already determined their attraction to the other's soul early on and have never doubted it. 

There may be some here who would criticise loudly at this point, "Then can't you be more considerate for your soulmate (the actual phrased used is "spiritual companion")? A-Xu has said many times, let's face everything together, I'll bet that you will be honest with me. If you really love him, then why can't you care for his feelings?" 

----- You guys, you've never been married. 

If two souls meeting can naturally resolve all behavioural conflicts and disagreements, then the theory of "breaking in" * would not exist. 

Let us take a look at what kind of a person WKX and ZZS each are.

Wen Kexing, he's a lone wolf. 

After his parents' death and his entering the Ghost Valley, his smooth sailing life suddenly fell off a cliff. Ever since then, the only person he could rely on was himself. That deep-seated hatred is carved into his bones, yet he can't speak of it to anyone else. He isn't the same type of person as the rest of the ghosts in the Ghost Valley; he isn't the same type of person as A-Xiang, who he raised. If we talk about the world and everyone who lives in it, he doesn't have any fetters or feels any (positive) emotions. 

His supposed craziness is a form of indifference. He's indifferent to others' lives, nor his own, because he just doesn't care. (T/N: I think he does care for his own life, but only for revenge, after that, he's indifferent. Indifferent isn't suicidal. I don't know why some fans seem to be confusing the two. Although he didn't plan to, if he somehow manages to stay alive after getting his revenge, WKX will continue to live on, even if it's only to keep A-Xiang happy because he is indifferent.)

Growing up like this, being solitary became his style. He's used to doing everything alone, used to making his own decisions, used to digesting all his emotions himself. 

Every time he argues with A-Xu, he digests his emotions himself. The next day, he faces A-Xu with a smile again. 

This is how he loves, to take it upon himself to face danger, difficulty and pain alone. It's how he had supported A-Xiang all these years in the Ghost Valley and what he's used to. 

While Zhou Zishu, he's a lead horse (of a herd). ** 

Since a very young age, he's taught to take responsibility. He's used to bearing everything on his shoulders, be it the responsibility of his family or the responsibility for the Four Seasons Manor, even the responsibility for saving commoners from disasters. 

Unlike the lone wolf, the lead horse is ultimately a social animal. 

Regardless of his identity as the Manor Lord of the Four Seasons Manor or the Leader of the Window of Heaven, he's always the one to lead the herd and rarely fights alone. So, A-Xu not only has leadership ability but more than that, he also knows how to be tolerant and accepting of the differences of his team members. You can see the various ways he managed to influence Lao Wen along the road; he's firm when he needs to be and soft the other times. It's absolutely textbook in managing your lover workplace management. 

Zhou Zishu believes in communication whenever there's a problem, that they should be open and honest. So, teamwork is what he's used to. 

Does it mean that when a horse and lone wolf fall in love, that there won't be a breaking in period? 

Obviously not. 

I guess this is where some may say again, "isn't this part of a character's arc/development? The two of them quarrel time and time again. Did WKX not grow at all from it?" 

Of course, after meeting each other, they both grew and saved each other.

When he first left Window of Heaven, A-Xu was lonely with regret. Unlike the lone wolf who's used to doing everything alone, a lead horse without the last of his herd has no way to bear the bone-deep loneliness and merciless self-recrimination.

ZZS wandered around this world aimlessly until Lao Wen started pestering him, until he picked up Zhang Chengling, right up until he felt he hadn't singlehandedly destroyed the Four Seasons Manor. This lead horse finally regained a goal in life. He gained a partner and a lover. Lao Wen sticks to him, Chengling relies on him, and the abandoned Four Seasons Manor became like-new in his hands. He finally reconciles with himself. 

When he first came out of the valley, Lao Wen carried a rage strong enough to burn the world down. But when he met A-Xu, he also met the beauty of the world. 

When the Four Sages of Anji died, WKX understood how he caused innocent suffering. When Gao Chong walked to his death knowingly, he understood that although some may desire power, they could still be righteous and upstanding people. When he learned of everything Long Que sacrificed to protect his family***, he finally relaxed his guard. 

There were so many types of good people and things that he saw along this journey that he hadn't seen in the Ghost Valley. When A-Xu told him he was a good person as they basked in the sun, he genuinely wanted to return to the human (vs ghost) realm and be a good man. 

Along their journey, A-Xu made up for the morals and values that WKX lost in the Ghost Valley and showed him a new world outlook. He appeased Lao Wen's anger, tempered his extremism. The process wasn't easy, but not that difficult either, because, in the end, Lao Wen is kind at heart. 

But in the end, being a lone wolf is how he survived and succeeded in a place like the Ghost Valley. When A-Xu was so heavily injured and needed a lot of rest (for Wu Xi) to save his life, Lao Wen suddenly recalled his enemies and how such an excellent opportunity to take revenge just fell into his lap. Everything was in place, and all he needed to do was hide it from A-Xu; he could leave for a short while and have it settled quickly. Upon returning, he could then live happily ever after with his wife. To a crazy lone wolf, why would he not take a gamble? 

What he couldn't predict was the news would've been leaked (to A-Xu), and he didn't know that by doing so, he would've forever lost his love. 

Both of them were using their own methods to love the other person. Zhou Zishu is more forgiving and accepting because being forgiving is in his blood. While what WKX learned in his years in the Ghost Valley is -- love needs to be protected, like how he has A-Xiang, who he considers a sister, call himself master (to protect her). 

Only when faced with painful consequences can a person's deep-rooted habits and approach to things change. So I don't think faking his death ruined the characterisation of Wen Kexing, but I regret that the last two episodes did not have a scene to show us Lao Wen's heartbreak when he learns the truth. 

Until I know what it feels like to have lost you, I will only love you in my own way. 

T/N: 

*I can't think of the correct phrase for this as I don't read all that much about relationships >< please let me know if you know of it. Here, I'm referring to the process of wearing something new (like shoes) that will hurt at the start until it becomes soft and comfortable. 

** I did some side-reading, and omg, A-Xu is TOTALLY the lead mare. Although he's not the stallion and weak/dying for most of the show, he's the head of their little family, and he expects "to be obeyed", aka, I'm not going to learn how to cook. Call me for dinner. Kthxbye. 

From Rutgers' website: A herd of wild horses consists of one or two stallions, a group of mares, and their foals. The leader of the herd is usually an older mare (the "alpha mare"), even though one stallion owns the herd. She maintains her dominant role even though she may be physically weaker than the others. The older mare has had more experiences, more close encounters, and survived more threats than any other horse in the herd. The requirement of the lead horse is not strength or size; if this were so, then humans could never dominate a horse. Dominance is established not only through aggression but also through attitudes that let the other horses know she expects to be obeyed.

***I think this is important here because WKX wasn't crying for his loss. I think a big part of him was realising not everyone in the world was callous and turned their backs on his parents, that he could've gone his whole life without ever discovering what sacrifices some people have made. Good people suffer quietly and in silence. It's a big moment to realise he was wrong about many things that he had let hatred blind himself to the world. Because although he was sad about the Four Sages and somewhat shocked by Gao Chong's death, he hadn't truly faced up to his actions until now. 

(screenshot of the scriptwriter liking the above post) 

------

To add: 

I'm not sure how many of you read my "opinion" posts, but I've been struggling to find a way to accept the last six episodes of Word of Honor.  I first tried looking at open forum postings, comments, and Tumblr posts. None of it worked because it was just arguing and emotions and no one made points good enough for me to accept things. 

So I gave up and went back to reading Chinese sites. I found many posts discussing the plot. Some I liked, some I didn't, but none satisfied my need for a reasonable explanation. I felt they had biases (both ways), or else it lacked logic. After a time, I realised that I should be looking for WKX-stans (or pro-WKX fans) because they would be more motivated to explain his side, but also because well-written posts by wenzhou-fans & ZZS-stans made me super sad.

I'm sorry, but those who keep trying to explain why the ending was good completely missed that episodes 32-34 are the real problem to those who don't like it and only focused on 36. I can understand if people don't think those episodes are a problem, but no one could provide an articulate and sensible reason. There are just too few well-reasoned plot-focused posts in English (sorry). I've seen too many examples of WKX-fans arguing with people who are upset about the ending, backed by nothing more than "look how much WKX suffers, woe is him. And how romantic is this????" *dies* 

Lastly, if you spot anything inaccurate, let me know & I will correct it.

[prolifeproliberty]

Cyberattacks & shortages - isolated incidents or test runs?

Months ago I made a video about how we might expect supply chain disruptions from cyberattacks.

Why did I make this prediction?

In 2019, the World Economic Forum, Bill & Melinda Gates foundation, and other major leaders wealthy elites hosted Event 201 a tabletop simulation to test preparedness for a global pandemic of a respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus.

It now looks to be more and more likely that the lab in Wuhan was working on SARS-CoV-2 prior to this event, and we know China has involvement with the World Economic Forum (Xi was their keynote speaker at their 2020 Davos forum). So question: is it a coincidence that a novel coronavirus leaked from a lab less than a month after elites held a planning session that focused on how to use messaging and media to make people and businesses comply with “public health measures”?

Now, you may not be ready to go with me to “China did this on purpose and the WEF was in on it.” That’s fine. But at least we can acknowledge that maybe the WEF knew something we didn’t, and that the elite billionaires had a chance to prepare that we didn’t have.

This July, many of the same people will be involved in another planning exercise: this one called Cyber Polygon, focused on preparing for a cyberattack on our supply chain.

Now we’ve had two cyberattacks on our supply chain (Colonial Pipeline and now the JBS meat processing plants) within a matter of weeks. The oil pipeline caused short-term outages at gas stations in a particular region of the U.S. We don’t know what the impact of the JBS attack will be yet, but it could be much more widespread.

None of these events have been enough to totally collapse the economy (in order to Reset something, you have to turn it all the way off). Could we be in for another, much bigger attack? Possibly simultaneous attacks on multiple supply chain systems?

My theory - and please note this is just me connecting dots and throwing something at the wall to see if it sticks - is that in order to have a good tabletop exercise, you need data points from real-world events that you can use to build a simulated event.

With Event 201, they could look back to previous pandemics. With the supply chain, they may have found they didn’t have enough real-world examples to build their scenario. After all, it’s only been in the last few decades that our supply chains have been so dependent on internet-connected computerized systems.

If I’m right, this JBS cyberattack will cause short-term, localized shortages of meat in specific regions of the country. We won’t see the true widespread (nationwide or even global), empty shelves, no timeline for restocking kind of shortages until after the Cyber Polygon event in July.

My prediction will be winter. That’s when people are most dependent on the just-in-time delivery system to bring fresh produce from around the world, and energy demands are higher from increased heating and lighting needs.

If I’m right, you have time to prepare. I have time to get more prepared. But we cannot waste this time.

There are different ways you can go about being prepared for these things.

1. Store some extra water and have a way to filter and purify more. Sawyer has a great mini filter that’s good for 100,000 gallons. This way, if water filtration systems fail in your area or you have to find water from other sources, you can still make your water drinkable.

2. Store some extra food. This could mean an emergency food bucket (I’m still trying to find one I really love - Mountain House seems to be one of the good ones), or it can just mean buying a couple extra cans every time you go to the store. Consider learning how to store and preserve food (canning, dehydrating, etc) so you can take fresh foods and put them away for long-term storage. If you always have extra food on hand and use the oldest stuff first, you can always have a buffer of extra food for when the next crisis hits - whatever it may be.

3. If you have any space at all, even a patio or a sunny window, consider growing something that provides food. Anything. If only to have the experience of growing something so you know you could grow more if you had to. If you don’t have yard space for a garden, look for a community garden in your area and get involved. They’re usually happy to teach you the basics, and you often get to borrow tools and other supplies.

4. Move out of the cities if at all possible. When supply chains fail, the cities are the hardest hit. You have high population density and low resource density. We saw last year how even a hint of shortages caused people to fight over toilet paper. What will people do if the shelves are truly empty for weeks?

5. If you have the money and resources, there are some investments you can make now that can pay dividends no matter what crisis comes next. Solar panels, rainwater collection, and buying a freeze dryer are all great preps that make you less dependent on fragile systems.

All of these things are good in general to insulate you against the next financial, political, social, or health crisis that you face. Many of these will even be good for a crisis that just affects you and your family, like a job loss or a major unexpected expense. So even if you think I’m being alarmist about the cyberattacks, even if I’m totally wrong, these steps are still worth following.

But if I’m right, these steps could be the difference between knowing you and your family are safe in a time of crisis and being stuck with your family in a refugee camp waiting on rations from China.

[corvusravenette]

FanFiction: Qi Ye

I’m still hung up on Qi Ye “Lord Seventh”, and this is a sort of add on to the battle scenes in the Final Chapter and what happens in the three months of Beiyuan’s recuperation afterwards from Wu Xi’s point of view because I wanted to write about Wu Xi’s angst, as well as how much he suffered from Beiyuan’s betrayal. There’s so little fiction on these two men, that I just want to throw it in there for fun. Enjoy! 

Title: I Thought of You and Yet You Came Based on Original Work: Qi Ye Author: Priest Genre: BL Warning: Gore and Violence Rate: Teen / Young adults Pairing: M/M (Wu Xi + Beiyuan) Chapter: 1 of 5  +-+-+-+-+-+-           The cavalry rode another seven or eight more days. Wu Xi had lost count of the hours, only silently bearing it in his heart, refusing to admit to the nightmarish fear that besieged him every night. His outward demeanor was as frosty as ever, a gaze often darkened with unfathomable secrets - causing the men who follow his relentless gallops to the Capital City break out in cold sweat whenever those pitch black eyes landed on them. They saw him as a strange deity, a restrained aura about him brewing underneath the surface, as though if provoked, would unleash the devil’s wrath. These battle-worn men continued to watch him secretly in awe, inspired by the image he portrayed - broad shouldered, sitting poised atop his steed, his black cloak flapping in the wind, his raven colored hair adorned with the silver crescent moon hairpiece, whipping freely behind him - stoking the fire inside the hearts of these men. 

          All these awed reverent thoughts of him were unknown to Wu Xi, nor did he care what others though of him. The Great Shaman fixed his gaze forward, urging the black stallion underneath him faster - the desperation and trepidation in his heart growing as the sun disappeared behind dark clouds. Nuahar had told him the night before, judging by the increased heat and humidity in the air, a late autumn thunderstorm was imminent. The Great Shaman issued his orders that they would continue to ride through the night, they were less than a thousand li away from the capital.           His decree was met with boisterous cheer - his Nanjiang men, and those of the Great Qing cavalry could feel the spike in adrenaline as the thought of war became all too real. They were close, so very close to the city, as they continued to ride relentlessly on through the stormy night and into the scant hours of the morning. Thunder and lightning accompanied their mad rush. An unspoken prayer in every heart were sent up into the sky, praying to whichever God they believed in - please let us not be too late.            Beiyuan... wait for me.           The name was whispered in his heart as a flash of lightning arced through the early morning sky. Rain continued to fall unrelentingly from the heavens, soaking the clothes and armors they were wearing to the skin. The cavalry persistently pushed their warhorses onward as though they could not feel this deep bone penetrating chill, their hearts set on fire as echoes of clashing swords and battle cries became increasingly audible in the bleak horizon.           Wu Xi’s heart was about to burst in his chest as he saw the flat land facing the imposing Martial Order Gate coming up in front of him. The very gates where he single-handedly slaughtered twenty-four assassins from the renegade Black Shamans who were under the orders of Helian Qi, the second prince. The very gates where he had waited for Beiyuan every day to come back from his month’s long mission to the North. The very gates that he and Beiyuan had left not too long ago to seek that quiet woodland pleasure away from the hustle and bustle of the city.           The very gates that Beiyuan had sent him away from so the former could stay and get himself killed in a war that was not his responsibility, wanting to keep him safe like a child needing to be coddled and protected. Wu Xi’s anger flared at this final thought, his hands gripping the reins of warhorse, the veins on the back of his hands bulging, the emotions he had been holding in leaking out of the tight lidded cauldron that was his heart. He would prove that he was no longer a child. He would find Beiyuan, if alive and kicking - dragged the impudent man back to Nanjiang with him, locked him marriage and if... if dead, his corpse would be entombed and buried in the soils of his homeland. Even in death I would not let go of you, Wu Xi vowed darkly to himself, steeling his resolve.            On his heels were the Nanjiang-Great Qing border army, and his personal Nanjiang troops numbering in the tens of thousands. The troops had travelled long and hard, resting little, pushing forward with all their might. The Great Shaman ordered this army to advance, a deep roar bellowing from deep within his soul, his voice carried by the wind into the ears of his men as he raised his long saber up high towards Martial Order Gates, “Kill the Vakurahs! Kill them ALL!”            His roar was echoed like a tidal wave from the frontlines to the last of the soldiers, igniting the inferno deep in the hearts of his men and the Great Qing defenders. The deafening sound almost like thunder striking multiple times against the overcast skies. He swung his saber in a wide arc as he entered the foray of clashing men caught off guard by the sudden arrival of reinforcements and sliced off the first head closest to him clean off his neck.           His warhorse soared over the quickly fallen bodies in his deep-seated rage as they came up behind the Vakurah barbarian’s cavalry, effectively throwing the latter’s battle formation into disarray. All he could think of was the not too far distance in front of him. Heads flew wherever he was, him alone had trampled many in his path, his blade shining crimson bright despite the rain while blood continued to curved in multiple arcs into the air.           The very image of this black clothed demon - rich ebony hair, jade-like skin that looked as though it hadn’t seen enough sunlight, deep-seated eyes under striking thick dark eyebrows, a malignant grimace across his red lips and the deep crimson blood streaks that marred his porcelain skin as he slaughtered man after man relentlessly - struck terror into the hearts of both the already exhausted Vakurah warriors and the battle-weary Great Qing defenders. It was far less than half an incense stick time afterwards that the Great Qing army realized this gleaming black Asura was on their side, the roar of their comrades accompanying him as he led the way forth. The fear they felt quickly turned into paramount elation - vigor injecred deeply into their hearts as belief in the war’s glory was restored.           “Reinforcements! Reinforcements are here! Reinforcements are here!” the echoes that carried the renewed faiths for the tired Great QIng army reached the ears of Heaven’s Pane’s messengers as they raced towards Helian Yi to inform him of the Great Shaman’s astonishing arrival when hope was all but futile.           Where are you, Beiyuan?!           The small voice in his heart sobbed desperately. He broke through the line of defense, the Great Qing warriors protecting the Emperor getting out of his way quickly, to come up to Emperor’s side, pulling the reins of his warhorse sharply. The stallion neighed loudly, its front hooves lifting in the air before crashing back down, its rider expertly pulling it away from a head long crash into the Emperor’s royal steed.            The stallion turned in a small arc, as Wu Xi came to a near halt, his dark eyes piercing, his demands needed no words spoken as he stared down the Rongjia Emperor. The newly crowed Son of Heaven, Helian Yi, was dumbstruck, a complicated look flashing across his face along with a final resignation of sorts. He no longer recognized this dark man in front of him.           “Upcurrent of Full Moon!” As though the king suddenly had a profound realization, he shouted the location without waiting for Wu Xi to ask.           Nodding his acknowledgment, Wu Xi whipped the reins of his ride the opposite direction, his heart in his throat, his eyes stung from the onslaught of wind and rain as he urged his stallion faster. Beiyuan... His mind was in a tumult, panic clenching his heart in a vice-like iron grip. The bloody image of his most beloved resurfacing in an open-eyed nightmare. The hammering of his heart was so loud in his ears as he made his way towards the hidden path he had shown Beiyuan just mere weeks ago.           Towards that tiny valley where he had snuck in a kiss and was allowed to hold his most precious beloved in his arms, the memories resurfacing of them lying down together on the comfortable velvet ground where he had watch Beiyuan’s sleeping form, his beautiful face free of worries amidst the early autumn breeze. Against the chaos around him, he entered the outskirts of the surrounding forest, the clanging of swords and spears, and the shouting of men slowly faded away, leaving a loud silence to ring in his ears. Urging his horse upwards, uphill, along the riverside, he broke through the last line of vegetation only to have his heart in his mouth, his eyes wide open, his body reacting faster than his mind could catch up.

          NO!!!           Urgently pushing the last vestiges of his stallion’s strength, he bent his body low, gritting his teeth as he reached out his arm - stretching just a little bit more as he hooked his target up around the waist - unconsciously registering the dead weight of the person before pulling him up onto his seat. With his other free hand, he blindly swung in a large arc towards the warhorse about to collide into him, successfully slicing the other horse’s throat clean through and watched it topple a few steps ahead.           He held the man in his arm tightly, as tight as he could, not daring to look down, not daring to see the nightmare that had haunted his every sleeping and waking moment to become real. He could feel something cold touched his chin and despite his apprehension, despite slicing through the remaining Vakurah soldiers who had scampered out of their hiding to ambush him, his eyes forced themselves down to look at the pallid vision of his most beloved. “It’s you....” he whispered with a small satisfied smile on his face, “you came...” he murmured listlessly before the lights in his eyes faded out and his head lolled unto his shoulder lifelessly, unmoving, blood dripping from the corners of his mouth.  “Beiyuan...” Wu Xi whimpered, his voice breaking into pieces as he cried his name again, “BEIYUAN!!!” *** Click Here: CHAPTER 2

[ellabxrnes]

My Forbidden Soldier | X

Word Count:

1.5k

Chapter Summary:

Steve and Tony find Bucky and Reader after one of Bucky's nightmares. A lot is addressed and the team will soon have a better understanding of why the reader is now living her life at the compound.

Part XI | Masterlist | AO3

"Come on, I'm not doing that dare. Everyone knows that Cyborg and I don't like each other, why would I make it wor-" Sam was suddenly interrupted by Friday.

"Mr. Stark, I think you need to see this,"

Tony had been trying to get more information about your past. He'd had Friday working around the clock. He'd even enlisted the help of Natasha, seeing if any documents were leaked in 2014, during the downfall of Hydra. Up until now, he hadn't found anything other than some inactive social media accounts, your job history, and several articles published by a newspaper called "The Derwood Star" which showcased some of your high school achievements.

Tony had been planning to meet with you directly and ask you more about your life before New York, but duty called, and every time he would ask Friday to call you into his office, news about otherworldly evils would steal his attention.

Just then Friday had displayed a hologram of Hydra reports, documents, images, and even some old security camera footage dated from the early 2000s in the large lounge area. The rest of the team quickly gathered around to see what she had found. After thanking Friday, Tony had started swiping through and thoroughly looking at all the AI had suddenly acquired. He was taking in the pictures of a girl that he instantly recognized as a younger version of you. It wasn't hard to tell that you were malnourished in every picture. Some documents were even gracious enough to provide details about your weight before and during your time in the hands of Hydra. The first video the team viewed was of you in some sort of dark cage surrounded by a mix of dirt and blood. Everything looked dingy on the tiny and low-resolution video. Soon enough, a dark and broody figure walked into the frame. Before the video could go on Friday announced a disturbance in Bucky's room.

Tony asked Friday to pin the information and take note of the video the team was watching before he and Steve hurried to his room. The rest of the team became cautious and stayed on high alert. When Friday announced that you had entered Bucky's room, both men started sprinting faster down the hallway. Both rushed to the staircase while Tony quickly hollered at Steve.

"You know what happens if either one of them is injured,"

Since Bucky had shown up from the compound after Tony and Steve's disagreement surrounding the accords, Tony had promised every government official that any violence that taken place between any members of the team would be reported back. Bucky was already considered a threat, and unbeknownst to you, Tony was attempting to keep your powers in the dark and protect you.

As Tony and Steve reached Bucky's apartment they took it as a good sign that he didn't hear any noises. Though when they rounded the corner and saw into the open door showing into his apartment, more specifically, him with his hand around your neck speaking another language, they weren't so sure.

Both men ran to Bucky and quickly pulled him off of you. Then, Steve using his super-strength was able to keep Bucky away from you long enough to help him regain some form of consciousness while Tony pulled you away. It didn't look good. Besides the forming purple bruise on your neck, you looked fine. You weren't in distress, you were just numb.

Tony and Steve exchanged glances while you stood up. Suddenly, the internal rage built up inside of you again and your eyes started glowing as you looked at Bucky. The relaxed hands on your sides quickly turned to fists as your mind told you to fight back. Tony saw this and rushed to your side trying to talk you down.

It took a moment for your mind to catch up on what was happening, and that's when the dam broke. Even though you weren't close to Tony, you desperately needed someone to ground you, so you turned and hugged him. He was stiff at first, but relaxed and looked back up at Steve, who was looking down at the other super-soldier who was still processing what had happened.

"Steve, we need to get her out of here," he looked down at you and then back up at Steve, gesturing for him to take over. "I need to send a report to the government ASAP and get both sides of the story here,"

Tony wasn't directly telling Steve to choose between you or Bucky for who to comfort, but Tony also knew that Steve was one of your closest friends here and that he could help you more than anyone at the moment.

"I can't leave him here by himself. He's suffering just as much as she is," he sighed. "Just take her to her room, I'll be up there soon enough. Go ahead and call Adrian. He can help her, plus we need to inform SHIELD of the information Friday found,"

Tony hesitated, but nodded and left the apartment with you. Meanwhile, Steve had to settle Bucky down. This was a common occurrence since Bucky suffered from nightmares plaguing his mind almost every night. After calming down, Bucky finally looked at Steve with a concerning look.

"Di- Did I hurt her?" Bucky stuttered, afraid of hearing the answer.

"Terrify, sure. But you didn't hurt her. We're lucky that Friday notified us though," Steve squatted down beside Bucky who was sitting with his knees held to his chest in the middle of the wrecked apartment. "She's gonna be okay Bucky. You are both strong. And I hate to pry, but I need to know exactly what you were saying to her. Why was she even in here in the first place?"

"I- I don't know. I only remember waking up after seeing that someone had entered my apartment. I know that I was having flashbacks because, well..." he gestured to the broken lamp on the floor. "But after that is blurry, I remember that I was speaking Russian to her."

"Yeah, my super-hearing picked up on that Buck, but I don't know Russian. Could you try and recall what you said?"

"Uh, Friday. Could you playback what I said to Y/N?"

"Yes, Mr. Barnes."

She then played back the audio.

"Кто ты? (Who are you?)" he said.

"На кого вы работаете? (Who do you work for?)" he spoke again.

"B- Bucky, it's me. Y/N,"

"Ты был моей миссией, aureate (You were my mission, aureate)"

"She was my mission, Steve. I told her she was my mission." Bucky said.

"What? You also called her Aureate, who and what is that?"

"I'm just as clueless as you. Although I do recall reading that name when I was going through my files one day." Bucky got up and started walking to the hallway closet where he kept all his valuables expertly organized. "I think we'll be able to find more information if we look through here," he opened the box and started going through it with Steve.

***

You had finally stopped crying. Tony had carried you to your room and laid you down on your couch before grabbing some tissues from your side table. Not long after you'd settled down, someone was knocking on your door. Tony got up and opened the door, knowing full well who it was. When you recognized the voice thanking Tony, you looked up. You were surprised that Adrian had come.

He came up at sat on the opposite side of the room in an armchair. You flashed him a small and slightly fake smile. You still had the adrenaline from the previous events in your mind, the kiss shared between you and Steve just hours earlier was long forgotten. What was Bucky saying to you? What language was he speaking? You still didn't fully understand what led you to wander into his room in the first place. Sure, at first you wanted to be kind and comfort him, but the draw you felt when you heard him scream. Part of your mind was screaming at the familiarity. No, no, no. It was just nosiness. Even if curiosity had led you to his room, you didn't expect to walk out with a bruise on your neck.

You quickly snapped out of your thoughts and looked up when you heard Adrian softly say your name, trying to get your attention without startling you.

"Y/N, this probably isn't the best time, but we're gonna need you to tell us what happened in there," Adrian said.

"Why the hell were you in Barnes' room in the first place? You know he only allows certain people in. I didn't think you two were that close," Tony smirked.

"I honestly don't know," You sighed. "I asked Friday and she let me in,"

"Okay, but why did you ask her to enter? Y/N you aren't in trouble. I just need to know so that I make sure this doesn't happen again," Tony said.

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[calacuspr]

This England team has shown us all what the power of sport really means

There have been a few times in recent years where the entire nation has appeared united and optimistic – and almost all of them have been connected to sport.

The World Cup in Italy in 1990, the EURO 96 in England and the London 2012 Olympic Games all come to mind as moments that will endure as epochs that transcend everything else going on in the world.

England has been particularly divided in recent years as the Leave and Remain factions argue; the challenges facing the nation during the COVID-19 pandemic; and the economic struggles that so many have encountered pretty much since the financial collapse a decade ago.

At Calacus, we work with organisations who see the value of sport to positively transform society and the England team has shown that throughout the build-up to EURO 2020 and beyond, they have brought the nation together in a way little else can.

Granted, it helped that England did so well, reaching the final of the tournament. It is hardly a new phenomenon that the squad is so multi-cultural, with players with family heritage from around the world.

While the aftermath of the defeat to Italy has shown the unpalatable side of society, the way in which the England manager and players have conducted themselves has been a masterclass in authentic communications.

STAY TRUE TO YOUR VALUES

Taking the knee has been part of football tradition in England for more than a year now, highlighting inequality and promoting diversity.

The England team have been criticised by many, with the Conservative MP for Ashfield, Lee Anderson, announcing that he would not watch “his beloved England team” while the players took the knee; Home Secretary Priti Patel suggesting that it was nothing more than “gesture politics.” and Prime Minister Boris Johnson refusing to criticise those who booed the team.

Given the racism that the likes of Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling and others have suffered, particularly from online trolls, it’s remarkable that politicians sought to condemn them and accuse the team of Marxist tendencies and BLM affiliation rather than a compassionate plea for solidarity and equality over division.

England defender Tyrone Mings said: “Everyone’s entitled to their opinions. The home secretary is one of many, many people who oppose us taking the knee or refuse to defend it . . . we [have tried] to educate and inform the minority who refuse to acknowledge why we take the knee and want to boo it.”

Notably, the boos faded as the EURO 2020 tournament progressed and the team got to the later stages and it speaks volumes that many of those politicians who criticised the team then tried to associate themselves with them through staged photography that fooled no one.

CELEBRATE INCLUSION

This England team are no strangers to speaking up for those who don’t have a voice.

Marcus Rashford has campaigned for an end to child hunger and has twice forced the government to make u-turns over free school meals.

Raheem Sterling, one of the stars of the tournament for England and who has been vilified himself by media and fans alike, has fought hard to call out bigotry in the fight against racism.

EURO 2020 started during Pride month and saw players wear rainbow laces and captains use rainbow armbands, despite some mixed messaging from UEFA.

When England played Germany in the round of 16, captain Harry Kane joined his counterpart Manuel Neuer in wearing a rainbow armband with England's official Twitter account saying: “@HKane will join @DFB_Team 's Manuel Neuer in wearing a rainbow captain’s armband for tomorrow’s game at @wembleystadium to mark the end of Pride month, as the #ThreeLions stand in allyship with LGBTQ+ communities around the world.”

Kane himself explained: “From our point of view, it is a show of solidarity with the German national team from all of us at the England national team to be united in trying to kick out all inequalities there are. We’re on a huge platform on a big stage so it is obviously a great opportunity to do so.”

Jordan Henderson has shown himself to be a captain on and off the field, supporting local charities during lockdown as well as leading his Liverpool team to success over recent years.

He is thought to be one of the main drivers behind the team planning to donate its EURO 2020 prize money to good causes.

Their donation – which could be in the millions – will be made to NHS charities now that the football tournament has concluded.

The team made a statement last May which said: “Following positive discussions with the FA, the England senior men's squad are pleased to confirm that a significant donation from their international match fees will be made to NHS Charities Together via the #PlayersTogether initiative.

“This contribution will be taken from a fund already set aside to support a variety of worthy causes using all match fees collated since September 2018.”

While England supporters still let themselves down by booing national anthems at times during the tournament, it shows the progress that this England team has prompted that Joe White, an England fan who co-chairs Gay Gooners, Arsenal’s LGBT+ supporters group, attended the England v Germany match at Wembley Stadium “in full makeup.”

They wore red lipstick, shimmery eyeshadow and mascara along with a rainbow flag and England flag painted on their face to complete the look.

They tweeted: “This is a really small and personal point but today was my first game at Wembley in full makeup and overtly queer (as opposed to just camp). Absolutely no issues from fans and some lovely chats.

“Despite being absolutely petrified pre game, really proud of our fans”

Henderson responded: “Hi Joe great to hear you enjoyed the game as you should. No one should be afraid to go and support their club or country because football is for everyone no matter what. Thanks for your support, enjoy the rest of the Euros.”

How refreshing that the LGBTQ+ community can now support the national team with no fear of abuse or intimidation and that the Three Lions Pride can display positive banners – understandably celebrating Henderson’s goal against Ukraine.

ENCOURAGE TEAMWORK

England manager Gareth Southgate arguably had one of the most talented England squads in recent memory.

The team’s headquarters at St George’s Park became a centre of fun with photocalls featuring the likes of Bukayo Saka jumping into a pool on a flying unicorn inflatable and Ed Sheeran playing a special concert for the team not to mention a preview showing of Top Gun Maverick and call with its star Tom Cruise.

While early on, there was uproar among fans over players who had been left out of the starting XI or even the squad, with flair giving way to pragmatism, Southgate showed how much the team ethic mattered to him.

After the 4-0 victory over Ukraine, Southgate paid tribute to the members of his squad who had not featured much during the tournament.

He said: “I am thinking about the players who I had to leave out of the 23 because they have been such a massive part of what we’re doing. It is so difficult to keep a group of this size feeling valued and yet those guys have been phenomenal about how they have sacrificed themselves for the group.

"I feel the responsibility keenly. But it is these challenges that make us."

Not once during the tournament did any stories leak of disgruntled players, while the players reflected the afore-mentioned values by resisting well-trodden paths of nationalism that previous encounters with the likes of Germany may have engendered.

In fact, this England team have shown dignity in the face of criticism and the very definition of what it means to be a team – there are no egos, no vested interests.

Where once supporting England meant violence and xenophobia, this England team has inspired a new identity with a commitment to diversity, inclusion and a more tolerant society, which is a credit to them all.

SHOW REAL LEADERSHIP

It was quite telling when, during the celebrations following England’s win over Denmark, former international Gary Neville said: “The standard of the leaders in the past couple of years in this country has been poor but look at that man there... he’s everything a leader should be: respectful, humble, tells the truth, genuine. He’s fantastic, Gareth Southgate.”

Southgate has been humble, engaging, honest and resolute that he knew what he wanted to do and would not waver, even when senior politicians criticised some of the decisions made by him and his management team.

Ahead of the tournament, in an essay on patriotism, titled Dear England, Southgate linked football and national identity and underlined why the game means so much more than just sporting excellence.

“I have a responsibility to the wider community to use my voice, and so do the players. It’s their duty to continue to interact with the public on matters such as equality, inclusivity and racial injustice, while using the power of their voices to help put debates on the table, raise awareness and educate.

“On this island, we have a desire to protect our values and traditions – as we should – but that shouldn’t come at the expense of introspection and progress.”

Southgate has been calm and assured throughout his tenure, ensuring that he and the team are consistent in their focus, messaging and conduct. There have been no scandals, no drama and every press conference or media opportunity has been assured and engaging.

FACE ADVERSITY HEAD-ON

Losing on penalties is part of football, but it’s also something that England have encountered at a number of major tournaments.

The backlash after England’s defeat was brutal, with the three players who missed penalties, Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka all targets of racist abuse.

Some MPs also used the defeat as an opportunity to tell players to keep out of politics, such as Andrew Rosindell, who tweeted: “We are all proud of our England team, who have had the support of the whole country over recent weeks, but please focus of football, not politics. If you win for England, you win for everyone!”

Home Secretary Priti Patel expressed her outrage at the racism, prompting Mings to again address her double standards.

He said: “You don’t get to stoke the fire at the beginning of the tournament by labelling our anti-racism message as ‘Gesture Politics’ & then pretend to be disgusted when the very thing we’re campaigning against, happens.”

Soon after the game, the mural in tribute to Rashford was vandalised, prompting hundreds of positive messages and fans voicing their support for the Manchester United forward.

Rashford tweeted: ““I’ve grown into a sport where I expected to read things written about myself. Whether it be the colour of my skin, where I grew up, or, most recently, how I decide to spend my time off the pitch.

“I dreamt of days like this. The messages I’ve received today have been positively overwhelming and seeing the response in Withington had me on the verge of tears. The communities that always wrapped their arms around me continue to hold me up.

“I’m Marcus Rashford, 23-year-old black man from Withington and Wythenshawe, South Manchester. If I have nothing else I have that. For all the kind messages thank you. I’ll be back stronger. We’ll be back stronger.”

CONCLUSION

The England team have shown without doubt the power of sport to unify – and while EURO 2020 is now over, we have the Olympic Games coming up where athletes will come together in the spirit of competition and camaraderie.

As Southgate put it: “The reality is that the result is just a small part of it. When England play, there’s much more at stake than that.

“It’s about how we conduct ourselves on and off the pitch, how we bring people together, how we inspire and unite, how we create memories that last beyond the 90 minutes. That last beyond the summer. That last forever.”

While the positivity has proved to be a brief moment in time, the England squad showed society how to empathise, respect and engage in a way that has been in short supply for so long.