#the republic of dauntless

[strelles-universe]

Roles of the Republics

The Grand Ranks

The Alpha Pair: The Leading Pair of Dogs in the pack; usually elected after running together though history occasionally shows that this isn’t always true. The Alpha Pair tend to rule for five full season cycles - one ruling cycle for each of the Five Howls - before they are required to step down. As macromanagers, the alpha pair are the ‘face’ of their pack that the rest of the world sees - their actions and behaviors influence the reputation of the pack. They are responsible for being aware of all territory dangers - such as bear dens and mountain lions - and organizing their Republic to better handle it. The alphas tend to organize with the Unit Captains to ensure that each of the territory problems have been acknowledged and addressed.

The Beta Pair: If the Alphas word as macromanagers, the betas work as micromanagers. No leader can know everything about everything so while the alphas are tasked with knowing all that happens within the wider territory, betas are responsible for managing the pack itself and helping them coordinate with the alphas. This also applies to interactions with the other packs - Betas often coordinating with each other.

The Omega Pair: The Healers of a pack although it’s widely agreed that omegas don’t actually belong to any set pack. Referred to as Wandering Dogs, to become a healer is a decision only reversible once in a dog’s life requiring the severing of links to your pack once you begin your training. Regardless of their opinions of another republic, an Omega is expected to heal and attend to all dogs equally - the only exception is if the entire Omega’s faction decides against healing. When the omegas go on strike, this is a sign that there is change to be had or the republic in question will have to figure out how to heal without them which grants them immense power over even the alphas. 

As Omegas don’t actually belong to any pack, it’s not uncommon for them to come and go as they please, rotating between the various packs - something that had ensured the survival of the packs during the periods of war. Their lack of overt connections to any specific Republic makes them ideal record-keepers, ensuring that the long and complex history of the Republics can be told to future generations.

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The High Ranks

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Honored Ones: Though an alpha pair must step down from their position after five cycles, their wisdom and experience is still highly revered and appreciated by the Republics. As a resulted, the Honors is the rank for all alphas that have retired from their position. These dogs function as a consultable council, offering advice and wisdom to the pack’s leaders. They are spoiled and cherished by their Republic though many who retire early are known to go on and become omegas to keep themselves active and involved. It is considered a great indignity to be denied entering the rank of the Honors - to deny any alpha pair this, it must be voted upon by the pack. Those who have this happen to them often leave the Republic out of a deep sense of shame, sometimes changing their names and joining a new pack as merely wardens or hunters to keep their heads down.

Captains: The individual dogs responsible for the management and overseeing of each of the Republic’s units. These dogs will report back to the betas and the alphas, sharing news about promotions, demotions, unit-swaps and other things specific to their units. With clearance from either both betas or at least one alpha, they set the standards for any dog’s promotion from rookie to a proper member of the units, any requirements to swap between units and to keep up with the health and status of every dog within their unit. There are two captains per unit and each are jointly responsible for the overall standing of their unit.

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The Unit Ranks

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Wardens: Traditionally the most heavy-set and burly dogs in the Republics trained for combat and defense of the packs. Having large sources of vulnerable prey around at all times means that the Republics are often vulnerable to attacks from all sorts of creatures - large predators, small ones and even aerial ones in the case of pups. Wardens are responsible for guarding the entrance to Republic’s camp, following a pregnant dog and her mate to the birthing dens, are the first and last line of defense against larger predators and are often the ones seen fighting against other packs. Warden work doesn’t have much prestige to it, ranking just above hunters in terms of respect.

Hunters: The smallest unit of the Republics and often the one that outsiders will be promoted to upon joining if they refuse to become rookies. These dogs are responsible for ensuring diversity enters the pack’s diet hunting wild game like hare, wild-goats and sometimes hunting birds. Hunters also are trained to gather certain fruits and roots from their territory to supplement their meals. As the unit responsible for the tracking and capturing of wild-game, the Hunters also keep note of the habits formed by local predators.  After the rise of herding within the Republics, the Hunter’s Unit are now considered the lowest prestige. 5/5

Herders: Easily the largest unit in the Republics, the Herders watch after a specific groups of semi-domestic livestock that driven throughout their territory to ensure the survival of their Republic. Each of the Republics have a different primary herded creature albeit smaller groups of miscellaneous animals are also catered to by the dogs. Herders guard their livestock from lone hunters such as bobcats and bears while monitoring the overall health of the herd, reporting and tending to any illnesses that are scattered throughout the herd. They keep track of the births and deaths happening naturally within the herd alongside alerting their alphas of how much was safe to cull for meat and when they should cut back and rely more heavily on the hunters. The Herders are reasonably respected third in line with prestige over both Herders and Wardens. 

Wet Maids: A very prideful unit of dogs, the wet-maids are responsible for the care of pups too young to start training as rookies and their recovering parents. When in the camp, they’re known to nurse a pup in the place of their mother if necessary, give the parents time to themselves, ensure that birthing dogs have the emotional and physical support necessary to recover from labor (especially difficult labors) alongside the maintenance and upkeep of the nursing den. In regards to the labor themselves, when a pregnant dog leaves the Republic to have their pups; they take a wet-maid with them to help the dog give birth and care for their newborn pup. Wet-Maids are the ones that decide when pups are strong enough to be returned to the pack. 

Scouts: The eyes and ears of the Republics, scouts are swift and fast dogs posted all across pack territory at any given moment. When the Republics resettle, it’s the scouts that map out the new territory and take note of things like rivers and streams, the dens of hostile creatures, bird nests and what kind of wild prey roams the area. They’re often used as messengers, sent between not just Republics and other societies for peace-talks but also within the Republics themselves as the units are often widely dispersed. Scouts are the ones to retrieve back-up during fights and even run along the edges of the herds to ensure their well-being. Scouts are the highest prestige rank and their requirements are easily the strictest of all units.

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General Members of the Republic

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Rookie: One of the most awkward ranks to be a part of as it’s the transition between being a pup with no say nor true independence within the Republics to an adult with influence and voting power. Rookies are new to their units with only baseline knowledge of the various tasks and responsibilities to be taken up - not yet considered part of any squad given their inexperience makes them prone to wishy-washy commitment to any rank. Rookies are mostly just responsible for learning about their respective units and settling into their roles within the packs. A dog is usually considered a rookie until they’ve spent four full seasons in a specific unit. 

Studs: Any dog recovering from birthing a litter and/or readjusting to being part of the pack structure once more. This rank actually includes both the parents of the litter but also the wet-maid that went with them and even the warden that accompanies them.

Pups: Any dog too young to begin training as a rookie and has yet to receive an adult name. These dogs don’t have many responsibilities, considered weaker and in need of protection by the entire Republic; a pup is expected to learn about the history and culture of their republic. Pups are exempt from most serious punishments for breaking rules and are expected to mess up or get under a dog’s paws at any given moment. Pups may not roam the territory alone, vote on a new alpha and may not enter the herding zones with someone to accompany them.

Elders: Ordinary dogs who’ve retired from their position at some point in their life - be it from a severe injury, the development of a chronic sickness or merely old-age, these dogs have left the life of active members. Still honored for their experience and knowledge, these dogs are often left to their own devices - roaming the territory in small sections or laying about in the camp spending the rest of their golden days with minimal stress and pressure.

[thesinglesjukebox]

SABRINA CARPENTER -"TASTE"

That's a wrap on September! But don't fear, the wait until we return in October will be short (and... sweet? This sounded better in my head)...

[7.47]

Julian Axelrod: Sabrina Carpenter must have been a pro wrestler in another life. How else did she learn how to pivot personas this quickly and effectively? After spending years clawing her way out of the Disney trenches, she's perfected a puerile pop princess pose at the unholy intersection of Madonna, Mae West and Michael Myers. Upon first listen, "Taste" checks all the newly minted boxes of a Sabrina song: sun-baked synths, big vocals in a small body, and production choices commenting on lyrics commenting on her public persona. Upon second, fifth and tenth listen, you pick up on the inside jokes you missed the first time: the height jokes, the "la la las," the tone that lands somewhere between sapphic and homicidal. Upon hundredth listen, you remember the ultimate Sabrina Carpenter signifier: Underestimate her at your own risk. [8]

Katherine St. Asaph: Carpenter releases another Haim-esque conglomeration of pop-rock hits past: Sheryl Crow (sunny clapalongs), Gwen Stefani (safe shiny tude and various vocal intonations, like on "exact"), and frenemy Olivia Rodrigo (subject matter and vibe). On her album, she has better. [6]

Alfred Soto: I can hear the money: the guitars on “Taste” twang with more color than on any pop single since Olivia Rodrigo’s “Good 4 U." This time her single entendres eschew the affectedly sultry for the self-aware gadfly.  [8]

Wayne Weizhen Zhang: A retconned version of "Deja Vu" — wow, that feels like a lifetime ago? — where instead of feeling pain in the boy’s propensity for repetition, you’re content with rubbing in the other girl’s face how you got there first. It pulls off a funny trick: I can marvel at the music video and metanarrative in group chats, and have the clever lyrical conceit stuck in my head, without remembering what it sounds like at all, save for the heavenly “la-la-la-la-la-la”s. It’s actually really difficult to make songs as clever as “Taste” sound so dumb and simple.  [8]

Ian Mathers: It's not a problem that the video is more fun than the song, but it does increasingly feel like "Espresso" was a fluke. [6]

Nortey Dowuona: Toddstradamus called it. For once, he was right, and thank God he was. Also, Julian Bunetta with another hit. Is he a good luck charm? [8]

Mark Sinker: A strong way to understand pop music in the UK right now is via the medium of sonorous Victorian poetry about ancient classical Rome, in which the forces arrayed against all that is noble can be held off by a courageous few at the head of just one slender bridge: “In yon strait path a thousand / may well be stopped by three!”  In this reading Noel (or Liam) is “Lars Porsena of Clusium” and “False Sextus” is Liam (or Noel, look it doesn’t matter, no one cares); the bridge is of course the Top of the Charts, and the “dauntless three” are Sabina’s singles since "Espresso" in April, right now clustered there, battling away. “The Great House of Tarquin should suffer wrong no more!” Let’s hope it shall, though! Or must the Republic of Pop fall?  [9]

TA Inskeep: Sharp songwriting -- that lyric in the chorus is so smart, so very Heathers -- paired with just the right touch on Carpenter's vocals. I'd normally say "+2 for the superb Death Becomes Her tribute video," but the song is so good it doesn't need it.  [8]

Will Adams: On Short 'n Sweet, Sabrina Carpenter comes up with a hundred ways to call her lover a fuckin' dumbass, but on "Taste", she takes aim at her ex's rebound. This time, the daggers are dipped in honey; she tells the new girl that she'll just have to taste her on his lips, but the subtext is that Sabrina kinda hopes she enjoys it. It's wonderfully bratty (NB: not brat, but bratty), and the gleaming, if slightly generic, pop-rock arrangement helps make it her punchiest single to date. [7]

Jackie Powell: “Taste” has what’s best about “Please Please Please” and “Espresso” wrapped up in one 2:37 minute song. The melody and rhythm are addictive and combine disco (thanks, Ian Kirkpatrick!), a bit of country twang and "slacker rock,” which I guess is the title given to any song that sounds chill, sunny and easy-breezy. But in classic Sabrina Carpenter fashion, what sounds relaxed and light really isn’t, and the combination of seemingly frivolous surface and deeper lyrical meaning that she has mastered is on full display. Case in point are the laughs that she recorded right after she sings the final line in the bridge, "I've been known to share." With the help of Julia Michaels -- another songwriter known for more complex lyrics -- Carpenter takes the narrative that Olivia Rodrigo played with on “Obsessed" and alters the conversation, talking directly to the other woman rather than about her. Sure, there’s been a lot of speculation about truly how fruity Carpenter is — the fact that she had women on the walls of her room growing up is a whole other story — but I leave each listen of “Taste” thinking about the mystery behind her intent. Why does she want the other woman to know how truly great she is? Is it platonic? Is it more? That confusion is what makes “Taste” as relatable as it is realistic. [8]

Jonathan Bradley: I wasn't sure before, but OK: I'm on board with the Sabrina Carpenter character. She’s a fantastically campy high femme train wreck: neurotic but assertive; condescending but kinda dumb herself; uptight, but doing her best to be flirty. As an introduction to an album and a persona, "I leave quite an impression/five feet to be exact" is an all-timer, up there with "Teenage angst has paid off well/now I'm bored and old" or "Been through the ringer a couple times/I came out callous and cruel." On "Taste," Carpenter is sunny and mean, like a great soap opera villain, and she accentuates her '70s adult-contempo arrangement with some great melodramatic touches: the Greek chorus appending "la-la-la-la-la" to the description of cunnilingus, say, or the sudden appearance of a girl gang to turn "know I was already there" into a shouted accusation. (It tries for the gleeful kitsch of Chappell Roan, but it's really bratty in an Olivia Rodrigo sense, which is delightfully unbecoming for a 25-year-old.) The theme of possession so intense it takes sensory form, as Britney Spears demonstrated on "Perfume" can be serious emotional territory, but Carpenter is happy to be frivolous with it. It's fun to be bad, and pop's Julie Cooper is ready to do her worst. [8]

Jacob Sujin Kuppermann: Diminishing returns for her schtick continues — this is a sturdier song than “Please Please Please” but Carpenter’s charisma as a writer and interpreter has waned  (the la-la-las behind “makes painting with his tongue” are dire.) She’s a star — there’s nothing here that doesn’t move through her — but heliocentrism does not guarantee success; hacky short jokes and come ons cannot be sustained as a model for pop excellence. [5]

Taylor Alatorre: Sabrina Carpenter has seen the Google metrics for "sabrina carpenter height," among other less Jukebox-safe search terms, and begins her album by graciously giving her audience, actual and potential, just what they want. Yet she's also adept at giving them what they don't yet know they want, in this case a weather-beaten chunk of the side of late 1980s pop-rock that even Haim are sometimes afraid to touch. Syrupy melodies and "la-la"s are carried by production that's audaciously lo-fi compared to other Main Pop Girl contenders, or indeed the rest of Short n' Sweet -- guitars that languish in late summer heat, a drum sound straight out of a sweltering practice space. Sebadoh Carpenter this is not, but the demo-like qualities lend an added sense of immediacy and closeness to a performer who knows when the time is right to make oneself seem small. Even when she steals Olivia Rodrigo's flow on the bridge, it's not out of ill will but rather the inherent comedy of copying from a song titled "deja vu." She laughs at pop music jokes in her own music -- that's called meeting the consumer where they are. [8]

Edward Okulicz: If Katy Perry is fundamentally a nasty girl who occasionally plays sweet, Sabrina Carpenter is probably a sweet vacuum who does bitch cosplay. It doesn't exactly suit her, but if the mask gives her the confidence to unleash a monster wave of pure smug contempt like this, then more power to her. Whether it's the pilfered hooks or a few groan worthy lyrics alongside the baths that hit, I welcome a pop star who isn't afraid to swing for the fences and make you like her at the risk of thinking she's desperate. Here, she's the audio equivalent of staring directly into the midday sun, in a good way. [8]

Dave Moore: This song is, annoyingly, perfect.  [7]

[Read, comment and vote on The Singles Jukebox]

[balteren]

{luke thompson, 34, cismale, he/him} We are so glad to see you safe, COMMONWEALTH REPRESENTATIVE VISCOUNT MAXIMILIEN GAUTHIER of FRANCE! It’s dangerous out in the world these days, but I hear that you are JOVIAL and DAUNTLESS enough to handle it. Just don’t let your RESTLESSNESS bring you down! Stay on your guard, because with your secret being at risk for exposure, you wouldn’t want everyone to find out YOU ADVISED AND COUNSELED THE REBELS, AND WHEN THE RECKONING CAME THEY SPARED YOU. {amy, 24, PST, she/her, n/a}

Name: viscount maximilien gauthier Aliases: max  Country: france Gender/Pronouns: cismale, he/him Sexual/Romantic Orientation: bisexual, biromantic Age: 34 Occupation: commonwealth representative  Faceclaim: luke thompson Inspiration: courfeyrac (les miserables), tom wambsgams (succession), fox mulder (the x-files), poe dameron (star wars)  Loyalties: the french rebels, the french people  Pets: a dog named plumet  tldr; Maximilien is a ‘former’ revolutionary that will do anything in his power to start a revolution in France. He can often be found roaming the grounds with his dog, writing in the library, or taking himself to the theatre. He is extremely good-natured and pleasant with most nobility, but is easily annoyed by anyone royal. Unafraid to speak his mind, Max is liable to get into squabbles, and he can come across a bit judgy.

backstory: Born on a small farm in a village outside Lyon, Maximilien was the youngest child in his family by quite a bit, born 16 years after his sister and 20 years after his brother. Due to complications during his birth, his mother died soon after he was born, and his father passed in a hunting accident only a few months later, leaving his siblings to care for him. His brother was almost entirely responsible for teaching him how to hunt, farm, and be generally self sufficient. His brother had a daughter that was only a few months younger than Max, and the two were essentially raised as twins. They were inseparable for most of his life, always getting into trouble in the village and wrecking havoc on the farm. Some time around his 27th birthday, it became clear to Maximilien that he was deeply unhappy where he was, and he announced to his family that he had received a scholarship to study law and politics in Paris. His arrival in Paris was tumultuous, and his scholarship did not cover much more than the bare minimum of his living expenses. His naiveté from his previously idyllic, pastoral life crashed around him, and he quickly grew disillusioned, His politics grew more radical with every passing day, and after vaguely mentioning his frustration to a fellow classmate, he was invited to a small meeting of other radical thinkers. It was here that Maximilien became a revolutionary.  When the people of France finally began pushing back against the monarchy, he was at the center of the action. He was a good shot, and was capable of keeping a clear head amidst the chaos, making him a valuable soldier. His tenacity, bravery, and initiative lead to his quick ascent in the revolutionary ranks. The temporary measures put in place by the Orleans were preposterous to Max, and he questioned why it was acceptable to anyone that had fought to remove the royal family.  Despite his objections, it became clear that many considered the fight over, and tensions generally fizzled. In the aftermath, the people elected him as the commonwealth representative, a job that he considers sacred. He was also offered the title of ‘viscount,’ and accepted it as a way to gain influence and intel that he could pass to the underground channels of rebels that still existed. It is Max’s belief that the people want a republic, and though he appears to be adjusting to a life at court, he is working tirelessly to spark a revolution.

time at lal qila: The early days at Lal Qila were agonizing. Being dragged away from his work- both official and revolutionary- made him feel stir crazy, and he found himself surrounded by people he couldn’t stand. He was prone to squabbling with the royalty in the palace, making a host of enemies and ensuring his reputation as “the dreaded frenchman.” His revolutionary roots were never something he hid- nor did he want to. From his perspective, the people of France had made up their mind, and they wanted a republic, not a monarchy. Being a known revolutionary was nothing but a positive in his mind.  His reputation led to a servant approaching him, asking him to attend a small meeting of rebels. Max agreed, more than happy to provide any help he could, and hopeful they could replicate the same progress that had been made in France. At these meetings, he emphasized the need for organization, patience, and solidarity, and gave them advice on recruiting, arming themselves, and how to gain legitimacy within their communities. To avoid suspicion, he only attended a handful of meetings, and was ultimately unaware of their plan.  When the Reckoning came, Max was as unsuspecting as everyone else, and had no idea who was attacking the palace. During the initial siege, he was returning from a walk with his dog, and hid with a few others in a small, barricaded toolshed that was eventually broken into. When he stood to protect those with him, a small shovel in his hand, he was immediately rushed by all but one of the attackers. Within seconds, there was a knife at his throat, and the blade was only stopped by the shout of the lone rebel. He had recognized Max from the meetings, and considered him an ally. They were ordered to spare him, and to maintain his innocence, they were told to take him to the dungeons, where he (and plumet) stayed for the duration of the reckoning. 

now: Max nearly kissed the ground upon his return to France. He spent a week or two at his family home before returning to Paris, grounding himself and making sense of what had occurred. It wasn’t long before he got restless and returned to Paris to find the people unhappier than they had ever been. He immediately got back to work furthering the goals of the French rebels. The compromise that was eventually reached with the Orleans was unacceptable to Max, and he is still actively recruiting, organizing, and trying to spark the flame that would establish a true republic. It is hard for him to ignore the memory of the Reckoning, the scale of the pain that came from it, and how significant his role might have been. Now, as the world gathers once again, he struggles with some guilt, and is tasked with making it through the event without anyone discovering the role he played in the Reckoning. 

[brookston]

Holidays 12.24

Holidays

Adam and Eve Day (Hungary)

Barahimizong (Sikkim, India)

Calendas (Mexico)

Chil’a (Elder Scrolls)

Christmas Eve (a.k.a. ... 

Aðfangadagskvöld (Iceland)

Apollo 8 Dark Side of the Moon Day

Bonfires on the Levee (Louisiana)

Declaration of Christmas Peace (Turku, Finland)

Drunken Synod's annual beer bash feast

Feast of the Seven Fishes (Italy)

Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols (Cambridge, England)

Fishmas [Also 1st Day of Trout Season]

Julaften (Norway)

Julafton (Sweden)

Juleaften (Denmark)

Last-Minute Shopper’s Day

Mistletoe Time

Nittel Nacht (Judaism)

Noche Buena (Spain, Latin America)

Quviasukvik (Inuit New Year; Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Russia)

Remember to Read the Instructions First Night

Silent Night Holy Night (Austria)

Super Saturday [Saturday before Xmas]

Tolling the Devil’s Knell (West Yorkshire, England)

T’owd ‘oss (North Yorkshire, England)

Weihnachten (Austria)

Wigilia (Poland)

Zerowork Season begins

Day of Military Honour — Siege of Ismail (Russia)

Heiligabend (Germany)

Helvetica Day

Jólabókaflóðið (Christmas Book Flood; Iceland)

Modresnach (German, Scandinavian)

National Roof-Over-Your-Head Day

Phonograph Patent Day

Sakewa (Sikkim, India)

Santuranticuy (Peru)

Utter Day

Yap Constitution Day (Micronesia)

Yuletide Lad #13 arrives (a.k.a. Aðfangadagskvöld; Kertasnikir or Candle Beggar; Iceland)

Food & Drink Celebrations

National Chocolate Day

National Egg Nog Day

4th Saturday in December

Super Saturday [Saturday before Christmas]

Independence Days

Libya (from Italy, 1951)

Feast Days

Adam and Eve (Christian; Saint)

Adela and Irmina (Christian; Saint)

Badnja Vece (ceremony where oak branches are blessed with barley)

Dauntless Dragon (Muppetism)

Egg Nog Day (Pastafarian)

Hanukkah Day #6 (Judaism) [thru Dec. 26th]

Harvey (Positivist; Saint)

Kolada begins (Asatru/Pagan/Slavic)

Krishna Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Mōdraniht (Anglo-Saxon Pagan)

Orgies for World Peace Day (Pastafarian)

Paola Elisabetta Cerioli (Christian; Saint)

Gregory of Spoleto (Christian; Saint)

Sol Invictus (Birth of the Unconquered Sun)

Thrasilla (a.k.a. Trasilla) & Emiliana (Christian; Virgins)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Lucky Day (Philippines) [70 of 71]

Sensho (先勝 Japan) [Good luck in the morning, bad luck in the afternoon.]

Premieres

Aida, by Giuseppe Verdi (Opera; 1871)

The Aristocats (Animated Disney Film; 1970)

Don’t Look Up (Film; 2021)

The Interview (Film; 2014)

I Think We’re Alone Now, recorded by Tommy James & the Shondells (Song; 1966)

Silent Night, by Franz Xaver Gruber and Joseph Mohr (Xmas Song; 1818)

The Truth About Father Christmas (UK Radio Play; 1922)

Tombstone (Film; 1993)

Today’s Name Days

Adam, Eva (Austria)

Evgeni, Evgeniya (Bulgaria)

Adam, Delfina, Eva, Irmina (Croatia)

Adam, Eva (Czech Republic)

Adam, Alexandrine (Denmark)

Aadam, Eeva, Eevi, Eva, Eve, Eveli, Evelin, Evi, Iivi, Ivi, Ivika, Tammo, Tamur (Estonia)

Aatami, Eeva, Eevi, Eveliina (Finland)

Adèle (France)

Abend, Adam, Eva (Germany)

Ahmet, Evgenia (Greece)

Ádám, Éva (Hungary)

Adele (Italy)

Ādams, Ieva (Latvia)

Adomas, Girstautas, Ieva, Minvydė (Lithuania)

Adam, Eva (Norway)

Ada, Adam, Adamina, Adela, Ewa, Ewelin, Ewelina, Godzisława, Grzegorz, Grzymisława, Hermina, Herminia, Irma, Irmina, Zenobiusz (Poland)

Eugenia (Romania)

Adam, Eva (Slovakia)

Delfín (Spain)

Eva (Sweden)

Eugenia (Ukraine)

Adan, Adana, Adam, Adamina, Addison, Ava, Eva, Eve, Evelyn (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 358 of 2022; 7 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 6 of week 51 of 2022

Celtic Tree Calendar: Secret of the Unhewn Stone [Day 1 of 1]

Chinese: Month 12 (Dōngyuè), Day 2 (Xin-Hai)

Chinese Year of the: Tiger (until January 22, 2023)

Hebrew: 30 Kislev 5783

Islamic: 30 Jumada I 1444

J Cal: 28 Zima; Sixday [28 of 30]

Julian: 11 December 2022

Moon: 3%: Waxing Crescent

Positivist: 22 Bichat (12th Month) [Harvey]

Runic Half Month: Jara (Year) [Day 15 of 15]

Season: Winter (Day 4 of 90)

Zodiac: Capricorn (Day 3 of 30)

Calendar Changes

Secret of the Unhewn Stone [Celtic Tree Calendar; 1 Day Outside Months]

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 12.24

Holidays

Adam and Eve Day (Hungary)

Barahimizong (Sikkim, India)

Calendas (Mexico)

Chil’a (Elder Scrolls)

Christmas Eve (a.k.a. ... 

Aðfangadagskvöld (Iceland)

Apollo 8 Dark Side of the Moon Day

Bonfires on the Levee (Louisiana)

Declaration of Christmas Peace (Turku, Finland)

Drunken Synod's annual beer bash feast

Feast of the Seven Fishes (Italy)

Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols (Cambridge, England)

Fishmas [Also 1st Day of Trout Season]

Julaften (Norway)

Julafton (Sweden)

Juleaften (Denmark)

Last-Minute Shopper’s Day

Mistletoe Time

Nittel Nacht (Judaism)

Noche Buena (Spain, Latin America)

Quviasukvik (Inuit New Year; Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Russia)

Remember to Read the Instructions First Night

Silent Night Holy Night (Austria)

Super Saturday [Saturday before Xmas]

Tolling the Devil’s Knell (West Yorkshire, England)

T’owd ‘oss (North Yorkshire, England)

Weihnachten (Austria)

Wigilia (Poland)

Zerowork Season begins

Day of Military Honour — Siege of Ismail (Russia)

Heiligabend (Germany)

Helvetica Day

Jólabókaflóðið (Christmas Book Flood; Iceland)

Modresnach (German, Scandinavian)

National Roof-Over-Your-Head Day

Phonograph Patent Day

Sakewa (Sikkim, India)

Santuranticuy (Peru)

Utter Day

Yap Constitution Day (Micronesia)

Yuletide Lad #13 arrives (a.k.a. Aðfangadagskvöld; Kertasnikir or Candle Beggar; Iceland)

Food & Drink Celebrations

National Chocolate Day

National Egg Nog Day

4th Saturday in December

Super Saturday [Saturday before Christmas]

Independence Days

Libya (from Italy, 1951)

Feast Days

Adam and Eve (Christian; Saint)

Adela and Irmina (Christian; Saint)

Badnja Vece (ceremony where oak branches are blessed with barley)

Dauntless Dragon (Muppetism)

Egg Nog Day (Pastafarian)

Hanukkah Day #6 (Judaism) [thru Dec. 26th]

Harvey (Positivist; Saint)

Kolada begins (Asatru/Pagan/Slavic)

Krishna Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Mōdraniht (Anglo-Saxon Pagan)

Orgies for World Peace Day (Pastafarian)

Paola Elisabetta Cerioli (Christian; Saint)

Gregory of Spoleto (Christian; Saint)

Sol Invictus (Birth of the Unconquered Sun)

Thrasilla (a.k.a. Trasilla) & Emiliana (Christian; Virgins)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Lucky Day (Philippines) [70 of 71]

Sensho (先勝 Japan) [Good luck in the morning, bad luck in the afternoon.]

Premieres

Aida, by Giuseppe Verdi (Opera; 1871)

The Aristocats (Animated Disney Film; 1970)

Don’t Look Up (Film; 2021)

The Interview (Film; 2014)

I Think We’re Alone Now, recorded by Tommy James & the Shondells (Song; 1966)

Silent Night, by Franz Xaver Gruber and Joseph Mohr (Xmas Song; 1818)

The Truth About Father Christmas (UK Radio Play; 1922)

Tombstone (Film; 1993)

Today’s Name Days

Adam, Eva (Austria)

Evgeni, Evgeniya (Bulgaria)

Adam, Delfina, Eva, Irmina (Croatia)

Adam, Eva (Czech Republic)

Adam, Alexandrine (Denmark)

Aadam, Eeva, Eevi, Eva, Eve, Eveli, Evelin, Evi, Iivi, Ivi, Ivika, Tammo, Tamur (Estonia)

Aatami, Eeva, Eevi, Eveliina (Finland)

Adèle (France)

Abend, Adam, Eva (Germany)

Ahmet, Evgenia (Greece)

Ádám, Éva (Hungary)

Adele (Italy)

Ādams, Ieva (Latvia)

Adomas, Girstautas, Ieva, Minvydė (Lithuania)

Adam, Eva (Norway)

Ada, Adam, Adamina, Adela, Ewa, Ewelin, Ewelina, Godzisława, Grzegorz, Grzymisława, Hermina, Herminia, Irma, Irmina, Zenobiusz (Poland)

Eugenia (Romania)

Adam, Eva (Slovakia)

Delfín (Spain)

Eva (Sweden)

Eugenia (Ukraine)

Adan, Adana, Adam, Adamina, Addison, Ava, Eva, Eve, Evelyn (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 358 of 2022; 7 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 6 of week 51 of 2022

Celtic Tree Calendar: Secret of the Unhewn Stone [Day 1 of 1]

Chinese: Month 12 (Dōngyuè), Day 2 (Xin-Hai)

Chinese Year of the: Tiger (until January 22, 2023)

Hebrew: 30 Kislev 5783

Islamic: 30 Jumada I 1444

J Cal: 28 Zima; Sixday [28 of 30]

Julian: 11 December 2022

Moon: 3%: Waxing Crescent

Positivist: 22 Bichat (12th Month) [Harvey]

Runic Half Month: Jara (Year) [Day 15 of 15]

Season: Winter (Day 4 of 90)

Zodiac: Capricorn (Day 3 of 30)

Calendar Changes

Secret of the Unhewn Stone [Celtic Tree Calendar; 1 Day Outside Months]

[theopulenthq]

Welcome to The Opulent HQ, Amy! Please review the checklist and send in your account within 24 hours!

{luke thompson, 34, cismale, he/him} We are so glad to see you safe, COMMONWEALTH REPRESENTATIVE VISCOUNT MAXIMILIEN GAUTHIER of FRANCE! It’s dangerous out in the world these days, but I hear that you are JOVIAL and DAUNTLESS enough to handle it. Just don’t let your RESTLESSNESS bring you down! Stay on your guard, because with your secret being at risk for exposure, you wouldn’t want everyone to find out YOU ONLY ACCEPTED YOUR NEW TITLE SO YOU COULD GAIN INFLUENCE, GATHER INTEL, AND SPARK A SECOND REVOLUTION THAT WOULD ESTABLISH A TRUE REPUBLIC.

[whimsielf3]

I was at a Banana Republic (don’t regularly shop there was with family) and noticed the colors of the clothes reminded me of the factions in the Divergent series

Erudite (blue)

Dauntless (black)

Amity (the copper colored shirts)

Candor (white clothes but I failed to capture image)

And Abnegation (gray and somewhere near the black jackets)

Ps: I feel kinda cringy for posting this but it just caught me off guard somehow

[darth-adipose]

Drommund Kaas hadn't been explored for millennia, a galactic order had expressly banned anyone from doing so, the record of it being stripped from all Republic databases, even the Jedi Archives had been ordered to comply with the order. Evidently they wanted to scrub as much as they could of the Sith Empire from history, and had been doing so for the last few thousand years. Eventually when the ship arrived, she would indeed see that the planet was very much there, not only there, but with a fleet of ships orbiting it, all with ancient ID markings. How had the galaxy not noticed this was here?

"Approaching vessel, this is Imperial Vessel Dauntless Wrath, transmit your clearance code for boarding Kaas Space Station." A voice came over the Comms system, definitely an Imperial judging by the accent. The recorder began to ping on the table next to her, a little green light flashing on it as it took care of the code itself. Clever little thing.

"Codes received, welcome to the fleet, Mandalorian. Please proceed to docking bay 94, a representative of Her Imperial Majesty shall meet you there." The officer responded, sending a remote guidance command to bring Xaotil's ship in on a preplanned route.

@darth-adipose

A holographic message puck was placed on the bar before the somewhat infamous Mandalorian by the local bartender along with a free pint of the local brew of choice.

"Some posh bird wanted this delivering to you when you got back. Sounded Imperial to me, but looked different than the regular remnant lot. Different colours, weird looking guards." The bartender said before leaving her to her drink. Would she open the message or not? Could be well-paying if it was Imperial!

Xaotil wasn't unfamiliar with this method of communication, for the most part when she wasn't seeking a target on her own her clients tended to value anonymity. From the sounds of this individual they must have been someone high ranking to have body guards accompanying them, so it was probably something that would pay a fortune. Tilting the glass under her helmet and taking a sip of the free drink, she took it and the puck to a more secluded booth in the bar and clicked the button to play whatever message had been left for her.

[ukrainenews]

Daily Wrap Up June 25, 2022

Under the cut: Russia says it has full control over Sievierodonetsk; The US has announced that it will provide 18 patrol boats to Ukraine as part of the 13th security package promised on Thursday; Ukraine will receive a grant of 1 billion euros from Germany; Greece will no longer grant visas to Russians; Russian missiles hit military facilities in northern and western Ukraine; Russia will send missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads to Belarus in the next few months.

“Russia says it has full control over Sievierodonetsk. Russian forces have established full control over the Ukrainian city of Sievierodonetsk and the nearby town of Borivske, a senior defense ministry official said in a statement on Saturday.

Reuters reports:

Ukrainian officials said earlier in the day that their troops had withdrawn from Sievierodonetsk after a prolonged battle with regular Russian troops and fighters from the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR).

“As a result of successful offensive operations, units of the people’s militia of the LPR, with the support of Russian troops ... completely liberated the cities of Severodonetsk and Borivske,” said defense ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov.

He said the attack had thwarted what he called an Ukrainian attempt to turn the city’s Azot chemical plant into a stubborn centre of resistance.

Konashenkov said LPR fighters now controlled the plant, where several hundred citizens had been sheltering. He made no mention of their fate.”

-via the Guardian

After weeks of bloody street fighting and months of withering bombardment, Sievierodonetsk is now “fully occupied” by Russian forces, its mayor, Oleksandr Stryuk, said on June 25.

With Ukrainian troops’ withdrawal from Sievierodonetsk, the fighting now shifts to neighboring Lysychansk, the last Ukrainian-held city in the region. Capturing Sievierodonetsk brings Moscow closer to taking full control of Luhansk Oblast, 95% of which is already under the control of Russian forces.

The mayor’s report came a day after Luhansk Oblast Governor Serhiy Haidai announced that Ukrainian troops would retreat from the charred ruins that were once home to over 100,000 people. The retreat was a “tactical withdrawal” to be able to launch more effective counterattacks from Lysychansk, according to Kharyton Starskyi, a press officer with the Rapid Response Brigade of Ukraine's National Guard.

Starskyi said Ukraine had begun withdrawing troops from Sieverodonetsk days ago, to preserve their lives.

Lysychansk sits on the opposite bank of the Siversky Donets River from Sieverodonetsk. The Russian forces have taken many losses in their attempts to ford the river over the past two months of fighting. Ukraine will utilize Lysychansk's higher ground to defend against the continued Russian onslaught, Ukraine's intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov told Reuters.

-via Kyiv Independent

~

“The US has announced that it will provide 18 patrol boats to Ukraine as part of the 13th security package promised on Thursday.

“Included in the package announced Thursday are two 35-foot, small-unit riverine craft; six 40-foot maritime combat craft; and ten 34-foot, Dauntless Sea Ark patrol boats,” the Department of Defense said on Thursday.

A senior defense official at the Pentagon said, “These are largely to protect the riverways and to enable Ukraine to maintain its control of the riverways. They can also be used in ... close-in coastal areas.””-via The Guardian

~

“On June 24, the Minister of Finance of Ukraine Serhiy Marchenko and the Federal Minister of Finance of Germany Christian Lindner signed an Agreement between the Governments of Ukraine and Germany on the provision of 1 billion euros in grant funding to Ukraine. The funds will be directed to the state budget of Ukraine to finance priority social and humanitarian expenditures during martial law.

These funds will be directed to Ukraine through the mechanism of the administrative account of the International Monetary Fund.

"Mr. Lindner, thank you personally, your team and everyone involved in the process, thanks to whose efforts we structured this agreement very quickly. We hope to receive funds in the near future. This grant is an extremely important contribution to support our state in this difficult time. We highly appreciate the assistance from the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, "Serhiy Marchenko said during the signing of the Agreement.”-via Ministry of Finance of Ukraine official page (Ukrainian source)

~

“Greece on Saturday suspended visa applications for Russians for an indefinite period, the Association of Tour Operators of Russia reported. The decision came months after Greece announced that Russians will no longer be eligible to apply for, hold, or renew investment-based residence permits in Greece. The Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum suspended the program for citizens of Russia “until a further notice” in response to its brutal invasion of Ukraine.”-via Republic World

~

“Russian missiles hit military facilities in northern and western Ukraine. Russian missiles have hit military infrastructure in northern Ukraine, local officials have said.

Reuters reports that Vitaliy Bunechko, governor of the Zhytomyr region in the north of the country, said strikes on a military target killed at least one soldier.

“Nearly 30 missiles were launched at one military infrastructure facility very near to the city of Zhytomyr,” said Bunechko, adding that nearly 10 missiles had been intercepted and destroyed.

In the northern Chernihiv region, governor Vyacheslav Chaus said the small town of Desna came under “massed” rocket strikes on Saturday morning. There were no casualties and he did not specify what had been hit, adding only that there had been “infrastructure damage.”

The missile strikes in northern Ukraine come as in the country’s west, Lviv governor Maxim Kozitsky said that four were wounded in an attack on the Yavoriv military facility.”-via The Guardian

~

“Russia will send missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads to Belarus in the next few months, Russian president Vladimir Putin said on Saturday while hosting Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko.

“In the coming months, we will transfer to Belarus Iskander-M tactical missile systems, which can use ballistic or cruise missiles, in their conventional and nuclear versions,” Putin said.

He also offered to upgrade Belarus’ warplanes to make them capable of carrying nuclear weapons, amid soaring tensions with the West over Ukraine. Lukashenko has previously asked Putin to “adapt” the planes.

“Many Su-25 (aircrafts) are in service with the Belarusian military. They could be upgraded in an appropriate way,” Putin said, adding, “This modernisation should be carried out in aircraft factories in Russia and the training of personnel should start in accordance with this,” he added.

“We will agree on how to accomplish this,” Putin said.

Lukashenko said last month that his country had bought Iskander nuclear-capable missiles and S-400 anti-aircraft anti-missile systems from Russia.”-via The Guardian

[strelles-universe]

The Canine Republics - Complete Masterlist

Though many dogs roam the world in small packs consisting of their immediate family and a few friends, the Canine Republics are a triad of grand-packs made of many members. The history of the Republics are a tad complicated - coming together, breaking apart and reforming many times since their first founding, often ruled by different leaders. Three packs have emerged from history, a cautious stability presented as they flow through their elections. These three current packs are The Pack of Courage, The Pack of Resilience and the Dauntless Pack - Courage and Dauntless are younger than Resilience, these two packs having been the result of a single republic ruled by a pair of brothers having a nasty falling out.

The Republics all believe in the word of the Five Howls and it’s not an uncommon train of thought that the world is intended to have five official Republics - one honoring each of their gods though dedicated efforts are only infrequently put forth towards the creation of the other packs.

Though the Pack of Havoc loudly proclaims to be part of the Republics, this information was thoroughly and completely denounced by both Dauntless and Courage - each citing that as Havoc’s pack chooses not to adhere to the Grand Laws, they are not recognized as a Republic.

AS OF A PROPHECY OF FIRE - The Western Packs have begun to enter a fairly violent pseudo-war with Havoc’s group who has begun launching raids and assaults on their territories and camps. Courage and Resilience have begun to withdraw into themselves as they settle in for what may come to be an outright war.

---

☽☽ Relationship Status ☾☾

With Other Republics | Neutral. The Republics are decently far apart from each other and honestly rarely meet. They perform trades with each other and of course, tend to share omegas, but in general, the Republics are content with live-and-let-live relationships with each other.  The bad blood between Courage and Dauntless has long since faded into more of a friendly rivalry and pride for their homes.

With the Sky Kingdoms | Neutral to Positive. The Republics live just as far from the kingdoms as they do from each other - further even really. It’s not uncommon for those who leave the Republics to join one of the kingdoms and for the Republics to receive new members through them as well. They’re periodically invited to coronations and festivals so even if the Republics don’t see them often, their outlook is often positive. 

With the Roaming Skulks | Positive. The Republics and Skulks are known to get along fairly well - both sides trading regularly with each other and sharing knowledge. It’s suspected that being canines made the bond between the two groups closer as they can speak a form of canine-creole between themselves. Courage and The Great Crows get along the best as their territories run alongside each other. 

With the Greenwood Prides | Neutral to Negative. The Greenwood Prides have managed to cultivate a bad reputation of being prejudiced against anyone not from their little group but especially unwelcome and insulting to those of the canine variety. Only the Republic of Courage has regular interactions with the prides and although there seems to have been a streak of peace recently, they’re inclined to continue keeping their interactions to a minimum.

---

☽☽ Workings of the Republics ☾☾

General Pack Info - Courage | Dauntless | Resilience

Prestige - The hierarchy present within the canine republics

Roles of the Packs - The roles and positions of the packs

The Grand Laws - The series of rules that a group must adhere to be considered a Republic

Names of the Packs - Name Collection | Naming Conventions

Celebrations of the Packs - Holidays and Such

Ceremonies of the Packs - Things like elections and rank choosing

Trade Agreements - Official contracts created by the packs with various groups

---

☽☽ Language of the Republics ☾☾

The Old Tongue - Grammar | Lexicon

Group Names - Names for the other major societies

Common Phrases - Phrases that have made their way into the general populace

---- 

☽☽ Beliefs of the Republics ☾☾

The Five Howls - The Five Wolf Gods worshipped by the Republics

Nature Spirits - 

The Endless World - The Afterlife for the Republics is said to be a place without end, that you can walk forever and ever without ever reaching an edge or wrapping back around

Dead Spirits - Forms

Superstitions and Beliefs

---

☽☽ The Republic of Courage Specifics ☾☾

Allegiances

The Alphas of Courage

---

☽☽ The Republic of Dauntless Specifics ☾☾

Allegiances

The Alphas of Dauntless

---

☽☽ The Republic of Resilience Specifics ☾☾

Allegiances

The Alphas of Resilience

[disdainfreely]

Clonetober Day 14: Shinies

May I offer you some dumb shiny Tup in this trying time? More specifically, may I offer you some dumb shiny Tup realizing he’s Very Into the ARC Trooper with the fancy kama?

I had to write baby shinies being so excited about the 501st.

Pairings: Fives/Tup (future)

Rating: T? G? It’s very SFW.

Words: 714

Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/34504687

“There it is!” Tup pokes Dogma in the side and tries not to bounce too much in place as he excitedly whispers into Dogma’s ear. He’s supposed to be composed, professional, but how is that possible when he’s looking at the Dauntless, the home base of the renowned 501st Legion? “We’re so close!”

“Just stay in formation,” Dogma replies sharply, but even his squadmate’s grouchiness can’t curb Tup’s enthusiasm.

“We’re joining the 501st, Dogma! You’ve got to be at least a little excited.” Tup forces himself to something more like stillness--he can feel the indulgently amused eyes of some of the more experienced vode. He doesn’t need to draw attention to how shiny he is, even if his armor is still gleamingly white.

Dogma just shakes his head tightly and doesn’t answer.

Luckily for Tup, he isn’t the only one who’s excited. Some of the other shinies with them are whispering among themselves and Tup chuckles quietly when he gets an excited elbow from another squadmate.

The shuttle docks and Tup will not gawk like a cadet no matter how much he wants to. He will, however, follow the blue-painted ori’vode off of the shuttle and into the hangar bay. If he’s been in the simulations once, he’s been in them a thousand times. He knows what a hangar bay looks like. It still sends a thrill up his spine.

“Well, what do we have here?”

Natborns say they all sound alike, but any vod can recognize the minute differences in volume, pitch, word choice, and tone.

Tup has absolutely watched enough footage to recognize Captain Rex’s voice instantly, even if he wasn’t given away by the stark blue jaig eyes on his helmet. He contains the urge to nudge Dogma and forces himself to attention with the others.

“Brought you back your fresh shinies,” one of the ori’vode says. His helmet has a large Republic cog painted smack in the middle of his forehead, but Tup never caught his name. “Looks like a fun batch.”

“That so?” Captain Rex removes his helmet and Tup’s heart nearly stops. “Let’s take a look at them.”

That’s Captain Rex of the 501st and Tup has just been assigned to the 501st and now he’s standing this close to The Captain Rex.

He looks exactly like he does in the holos, of course, eyes sharp as Tup’s ever seen them. There’s a smile twitching at the corners of his mouth that’s new. It sets some of Tup’s more frazzled nerves at ease. Captain Rex moves down the line of stiff shinies, close enough that Tup is sure he’s picking up on every scuff, every stance that isn’t perfect. He stops at the end of the line and smiles for real.

“At ease, troopers. Buckets off,” Captain Rex says. Tup is grateful to obey. His hair falls loose as soon as it’s free. If it could just grow a little faster, he might be able to actually tie it up. “Alright, vode. You’re going to spend today getting settled in. Duty starts tomorrow. ARC Trooper Fives will show you around.” He gestures to a vod who steps up next to him.

ARC Trooper Fives is a fully kitted ARC trooper, complete with pauldron and kama. Captain Rex has those too, but he’s Captain Rex. Seeing it on another vod makes Tup’s chest do something a little strange.

It’s not like he hasn’t seen kamas and pauldrons on some of the Kamino ARCs. Maybe it’s just the blue paint and the general excitement of his assignment.

“Follow me, vod’ike. I’ll take you to the barracks.” ARC Trooper Fives removes his bucket to reveal a bright grin and a striking tattoo on his temple. He walks by the line to start to lead them, but pauses in front of Tup. “Growing your hair out, vod?”

“Yessir.” Tup manages to say and immediately begins to pray for death.

ARC Trooper Fives reaches out to tug fondly on an errant curl, like they know each other. Like they haven’t just met.

“Looks good. You have a name yet?”

“Tup, sir.” Oh. Oh no. “Tup.” Fives tilts his head, considering. “I like it.”

“Fives, stop flirting and get them moving,” Captain Rex orders.

Fives laughs.

Oh.

Tup’s really in for it now.

[meandmyechoes]

amended list of GAR Flagships in the Clone Wars (based on this list)

The following ships are all Venator-class Star Destroyers. Sometimes referred to as Republic cruisers or Jedi cruisers.

Obi-Wan Kenobi

Negotiator (demise: 5.08)

Integrity (flagship of Open Circle Fleet)

Vigilance

Anakin Skywalker

Resolute (demise: 3.12)

Auxiliary: Dauntless, Pioneer

Auxiliary: Defender, Redeemer (demise: 1.19)

(new flagship from S4-7 is unnamed)

Luminara Unduli

Tranquility

Aayla Secura

Liberty

Intrepid

Saesee Tiin

Impavid

Prosperous

Plo Koon

Triumphant (demise: 1.04) 

Courageous

The Endurance was under the command of Admiral Kilian but this is the ship that Mace had been using when Boba Fett tried to kill him.

Yoda used the Tranquility for the Battle of Kashyyk (and Luminara was there with him).

List of Flagships on Wookieepedia.

[balteren]

viscount maximilien gauthier- commonwealth representative in france

intro - pinterest - spotify

{luke thompson, 34, cismale, he/him} We are so glad to see you safe, COMMONWEALTH REPRESENTATIVE VISCOUNT MAXIMILIEN GAUTHIER of FRANCE! It’s dangerous out in the world these days, but I hear that you are JOVIAL and DAUNTLESS enough to handle it. Just don’t let your RESTLESSNESS bring you down! Stay on your guard, because with your secret being at risk for exposure, you wouldn’t want everyone to find out YOU ONLY ACCEPTED YOUR NEW TITLE SO YOU COULD GAIN INFLUENCE AND SPARK A SECOND REVOLUTION THAT WOULD ESTABLISH A TRUE REPUBLIC.

tldr; Maximilien (or Max, if you're familiar with him) is a 'former' revolutionary that will do anything in his power to start a second revolution in France. He can often be found roaming the grounds with his dog, writing in the library, or taking himself to the theatre. He is extremely good-natured and pleasant with most, but is easily annoyed by the royal families and actively avoids them. Unafraid to speak his mind, Max is liable to get into squabbles, but he keeps his true intentions close to his chest.

Born on a small farm in a village outside Lyon, Maximilien was the youngest child in his family by quite a bit, born 16 years after his sister and 20 years after his brother. His mother died soon after he was born, and his father passed in a hunting accident a few years later, leaving his siblings to care for him. His brother was almost entirely responsible for teaching him how to hunt, farm, and be generally self sufficient. His brother had a daughter that was only a year younger than Max, and the two were inseparable for much of his childhood and teenage years. Some time around his 27th birthday, it became clear to Maximilien that he was deeply unhappy, and he announced to his family that he had received a scholarship to study medicine in Paris.

His arrival in Paris was tumultuous, and his scholarship did not cover much more than the bare minimum of his living expenses. Max was never interested in politics, but as he settled in Paris, he slowly grew disillusioned, and found himself growing more radical with every passing day. After vaguely mentioning his frustration to a fellow classmate, he was invited to a small meeting of other radical thinkers. It was here that Maximilien became a revolutionary. 

When the people of France finally rose against the monarchy, he was at the center of the action. He was a good shot and capable of keeping a clear head amidst the fighting, making him a valuable soldier. When he wasn’t fighting, he was holding small classes to teach other rebels how to care for injuries that they were likely to see in battle. His tenacity, bravery, and initiative lead to his quick ascent in the revolutionary ranks.

The compromise reached by the Orleans and the rebels was preposterous to Max, and he questions why it was acceptable to anyone that had fought so hard and sacrificed so much .  Despite his objections, it became clear that many considered the rebellion over. In the aftermath, the people elected him Commonwealth Representative, a job that he considers sacred. He was also offered the title of ‘viscount,’ and accepted it as a way to gain influence and intel that he could pass to the underground channels of rebels that still existed.

It is Max’s belief that the people want a republic, and though he appears to be adjusting to a life at court, he is working tirelessly to spark another revolution.

[brookston]

Holidays 12.24

Holidays

Adam and Eve Day (Hungary)

Barahimizong (Sikkim, India)

Calendas (Mexico)

Chil’a (Elder Scrolls)

Christmas Eve (a.k.a. ... 

Aðfangadagskvöld (Iceland)

Apollo 8 Dark Side of the Moon Day

Bonfires on the Levee (Louisiana)

Declaration of Christmas Peace (Turku, Finland)

Drunken Synod's annual beer bash feast

Feast of the Seven Fishes (Italy)

Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols (Cambridge, England)

Fishmas [Also 1st Day of Trout Season]

Julaften (Norway)

Julafton (Sweden)

Juleaften (Denmark)

Last-Minute Shopper’s Day

Mistletoe Time

Nittel Nacht (Judaism)

Noche Buena (Spain, Latin America)

Quviasukvik (Inuit New Year; Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Russia)

Remember to Read the Instructions First Night

Silent Night Holy Night (Austria)

Tolling the Devil’s Knell (West Yorkshire, England)

T’owd ‘oss (North Yorkshire, England)

Weihnachten (Austria)

Wigilia (Poland)

Zerowork Season begins

Day of Military Honour — Siege of Ismail (Russia)

Die Hard Day

Dr. Anthony S. Fauci Day (DC)

Earthrise Day

Heiligabend (Germany)

Helvetica Day

Jólabókaflóðið (Christmas Book Flood; Iceland)

Mōdraniht (Night of the Mothers; Anglo-Saxon Paganism)

Modresnach (German, Scandinavian)

National Consumers Right Day (India)

National Roof-Over-Your-Head Day

Phonograph Patent Day

Sakewa (Sikkim, India)

Santuranticuy (Peru)

Sulphur Day (French Republic)

Utter Day

Yap Constitution Day (Micronesia)

Yuletide Lad #13 arrives (a.k.a. Kertasníkir or Candle-Stealer; Iceland)

Food & Drink Celebrations

National Chocolate Day

National Egg Nog Day

4th Sunday in December

Bluegrass Brunch [4th Sunday]

4th Sunday in Advent [1st Sunday before Xmas] (a.k.a. ... 

Advent Sunday

Peace Sunday

Pyrmera (Southern Solstice; Aretéanism) [4th Sunday] (Fire)

Stories for Invisible Friends [4th Sunday]

Independence Days

Libya (from Italy, 1951)

Ohio Republic (Declared; 2017) [unrecognized]

Feast Days

Adam and Eve (Christian; Saint)

Adela and Irmina (Christian; Saint)

Ad Reinhardt (Artology)

Badnja Vece (ceremony where oak branches are blessed with barley)

Dauntless Dragon (Muppetism)

Egg Nog Day (Pastafarian)

Harvey (Positivist; Saint)

Joseph Cornell (Artology)

Kolada begins (Asatru/Pagan/Slavic)

Krishna Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Larentalia (Pagan)

Mōdraniht (Anglo-Saxon Pagan)

Orgies for World Peace Day (Pastafarian)

Paola Elisabetta Cerioli (Christian; Saint)

Gregory of Spoleto (Christian; Saint)

Sol Invictus (Birth of the Unconquered Sun)

Thrasilla (a.k.a. Trasilla) & Emiliana (Christian; Virgins)

Twelvetide Eve (a.k.a. the Twelve Days of Christmas or Christmastide) [Begins at Sundown]

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Butsumetsu (仏滅 Japan) [Unlucky all day.]

Lucky Day (Philippines) [70 of 71]

Premieres

Against All Flags (Film; 1952)

Aida, by Giuseppe Verdi (Opera; 1871)

The Aristocats (Animated Disney Film; 1970)

The Brain Drainers or Malice in Wonderland (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S5, Ep. 242; 1963)

Dawn of the Cross (Animated TV Series; 2015)

Don’t Look Up (Film; 2021)

Goof Gas Attack, Part 1 (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S5, Ep. 241; 1963)

The Interview (Film; 2014)

I Think We’re Alone Now, recorded by Tommy James & the Shondells (Song; 1966)

Kiss Me Goodbye (Film; 1982)

Lonesome Ghosts (Disney Cartoon; 1937)

The Love Bug (Film; 1968)

Mystery in White, by J. Jefferson Farjeon (Novel; 1937)

Philadelphia (Film; 1993)

Silent Night, by Franz Xaver Gruber and Joseph Mohr (Xmas Song; 1818)

The Silent Sea (TV Series; 2021)

The Story of the Trapp Family Singers, by Maria Augusta von Trapp (Memoir; 1949)

Summer Wars (Anime Film; 2010)

Tea for Two Hundred (Disney Cartoon; 1948)

The Truth About Father Christmas (UK Radio Play; 1922)

Tombstone (Film; 1993)

Today’s Name Days

Adam, Eva (Austria)

Evgeni, Evgeniya (Bulgaria)

Adam, Delfina, Eva, Irmina (Croatia)

Adam, Eva (Czech Republic)

Adam, Alexandrine (Denmark)

Aadam, Eeva, Eevi, Eva, Eve, Eveli, Evelin, Evi, Iivi, Ivi, Ivika, Tammo, Tamur (Estonia)

Aatami, Eeva, Eevi, Eveliina (Finland)

Adèle (France)

Abend, Adam, Eva (Germany)

Ahmet, Evgenia (Greece)

Ádám, Éva (Hungary)

Adele (Italy)

Ādams, Ieva (Latvia)

Adomas, Girstautas, Ieva, Minvydė (Lithuania)

Adam, Eva (Norway)

Ada, Adam, Adamina, Adela, Ewa, Ewelin, Ewelina, Godzisława, Grzegorz, Grzymisława, Hermina, Herminia, Irma, Irmina, Zenobiusz (Poland)

Eugenia (Romania)

Adam, Eva (Slovakia)

Delfín (Spain)

Eva (Sweden)

Eugenia (Ukraine)

Adan, Adana, Adam, Adamina, Addison, Ava, Eva, Eve, Evelyn (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 358 of 2024; 7 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 7 of week 51 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Ruis (Elder) [Day 27 of 28]

Chinese: Month 12 (Jia-Zi), Day 12 (Bing-Chen)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 12 Teveth 5784

Islamic: 11 Jumada II 1445

J Cal: 28 Zima; Sevenday [28 of 30]

Julian: 11 December 2023

Moon: 94%: Waxing Gibbous

Positivist: 22 Bichat (13th Month) [Harvey]

Runic Half Month: Jara (Year) [Day 14 of 15]

Season: Winter (Day 4 of 89)

Zodiac: Capricorn (Day 3 of 31)

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 12.24

Holidays

Adam and Eve Day (Hungary)

Barahimizong (Sikkim, India)

Calendas (Mexico)

Chil’a (Elder Scrolls)

Christmas Eve (a.k.a. ... 

Aðfangadagskvöld (Iceland)

Apollo 8 Dark Side of the Moon Day

Bonfires on the Levee (Louisiana)

Declaration of Christmas Peace (Turku, Finland)

Drunken Synod's annual beer bash feast

Feast of the Seven Fishes (Italy)

Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols (Cambridge, England)

Fishmas [Also 1st Day of Trout Season]

Julaften (Norway)

Julafton (Sweden)

Juleaften (Denmark)

Last-Minute Shopper’s Day

Mistletoe Time

Nittel Nacht (Judaism)

Noche Buena (Spain, Latin America)

Quviasukvik (Inuit New Year; Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Russia)

Remember to Read the Instructions First Night

Silent Night Holy Night (Austria)

Tolling the Devil’s Knell (West Yorkshire, England)

T’owd ‘oss (North Yorkshire, England)

Weihnachten (Austria)

Wigilia (Poland)

Zerowork Season begins

Day of Military Honour — Siege of Ismail (Russia)

Die Hard Day

Dr. Anthony S. Fauci Day (DC)

Earthrise Day

Heiligabend (Germany)

Helvetica Day

Jólabókaflóðið (Christmas Book Flood; Iceland)

Mōdraniht (Night of the Mothers; Anglo-Saxon Paganism)

Modresnach (German, Scandinavian)

National Consumers Right Day (India)

National Roof-Over-Your-Head Day

Phonograph Patent Day

Sakewa (Sikkim, India)

Santuranticuy (Peru)

Sulphur Day (French Republic)

Utter Day

Yap Constitution Day (Micronesia)

Yuletide Lad #13 arrives (a.k.a. Kertasníkir or Candle-Stealer; Iceland)

Food & Drink Celebrations

National Chocolate Day

National Egg Nog Day

4th Sunday in December

Bluegrass Brunch [4th Sunday]

4th Sunday in Advent [1st Sunday before Xmas] (a.k.a. ... 

Advent Sunday

Peace Sunday

Pyrmera (Southern Solstice; Aretéanism) [4th Sunday] (Fire)

Stories for Invisible Friends [4th Sunday]

Independence Days

Libya (from Italy, 1951)

Ohio Republic (Declared; 2017) [unrecognized]

Feast Days

Adam and Eve (Christian; Saint)

Adela and Irmina (Christian; Saint)

Ad Reinhardt (Artology)

Badnja Vece (ceremony where oak branches are blessed with barley)

Dauntless Dragon (Muppetism)

Egg Nog Day (Pastafarian)

Harvey (Positivist; Saint)

Joseph Cornell (Artology)

Kolada begins (Asatru/Pagan/Slavic)

Krishna Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Larentalia (Pagan)

Mōdraniht (Anglo-Saxon Pagan)

Orgies for World Peace Day (Pastafarian)

Paola Elisabetta Cerioli (Christian; Saint)

Gregory of Spoleto (Christian; Saint)

Sol Invictus (Birth of the Unconquered Sun)

Thrasilla (a.k.a. Trasilla) & Emiliana (Christian; Virgins)

Twelvetide Eve (a.k.a. the Twelve Days of Christmas or Christmastide) [Begins at Sundown]

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Butsumetsu (仏滅 Japan) [Unlucky all day.]

Lucky Day (Philippines) [70 of 71]

Premieres

Against All Flags (Film; 1952)

Aida, by Giuseppe Verdi (Opera; 1871)

The Aristocats (Animated Disney Film; 1970)

The Brain Drainers or Malice in Wonderland (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S5, Ep. 242; 1963)

Dawn of the Cross (Animated TV Series; 2015)

Don’t Look Up (Film; 2021)

Goof Gas Attack, Part 1 (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S5, Ep. 241; 1963)

The Interview (Film; 2014)

I Think We’re Alone Now, recorded by Tommy James & the Shondells (Song; 1966)

Kiss Me Goodbye (Film; 1982)

Lonesome Ghosts (Disney Cartoon; 1937)

The Love Bug (Film; 1968)

Mystery in White, by J. Jefferson Farjeon (Novel; 1937)

Philadelphia (Film; 1993)

Silent Night, by Franz Xaver Gruber and Joseph Mohr (Xmas Song; 1818)

The Silent Sea (TV Series; 2021)

The Story of the Trapp Family Singers, by Maria Augusta von Trapp (Memoir; 1949)

Summer Wars (Anime Film; 2010)

Tea for Two Hundred (Disney Cartoon; 1948)

The Truth About Father Christmas (UK Radio Play; 1922)

Tombstone (Film; 1993)

Today’s Name Days

Adam, Eva (Austria)

Evgeni, Evgeniya (Bulgaria)

Adam, Delfina, Eva, Irmina (Croatia)

Adam, Eva (Czech Republic)

Adam, Alexandrine (Denmark)

Aadam, Eeva, Eevi, Eva, Eve, Eveli, Evelin, Evi, Iivi, Ivi, Ivika, Tammo, Tamur (Estonia)

Aatami, Eeva, Eevi, Eveliina (Finland)

Adèle (France)

Abend, Adam, Eva (Germany)

Ahmet, Evgenia (Greece)

Ádám, Éva (Hungary)

Adele (Italy)

Ādams, Ieva (Latvia)

Adomas, Girstautas, Ieva, Minvydė (Lithuania)

Adam, Eva (Norway)

Ada, Adam, Adamina, Adela, Ewa, Ewelin, Ewelina, Godzisława, Grzegorz, Grzymisława, Hermina, Herminia, Irma, Irmina, Zenobiusz (Poland)

Eugenia (Romania)

Adam, Eva (Slovakia)

Delfín (Spain)

Eva (Sweden)

Eugenia (Ukraine)

Adan, Adana, Adam, Adamina, Addison, Ava, Eva, Eve, Evelyn (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 358 of 2024; 7 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 7 of week 51 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Ruis (Elder) [Day 27 of 28]

Chinese: Month 12 (Jia-Zi), Day 12 (Bing-Chen)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 12 Teveth 5784

Islamic: 11 Jumada II 1445

J Cal: 28 Zima; Sevenday [28 of 30]

Julian: 11 December 2023

Moon: 94%: Waxing Gibbous

Positivist: 22 Bichat (13th Month) [Harvey]

Runic Half Month: Jara (Year) [Day 14 of 15]

Season: Winter (Day 4 of 89)

Zodiac: Capricorn (Day 3 of 31)

[ghostfriendly5]

The most significant event in the Goblin Slayer fandom of the last three years has begun.

The second season? I've been telling you for the past three years what can be done with that.

Fighter, Warrior and Wizard, the only heroes ever produced by a world they abandoned long ago, have come to Shasta Dam, California, on 28th May 2053. To lead a rag-tag and diverse militia against the invasion of Tir Tairngire's fascist elves. Against the racism, chauvinism and ignorant aggression represented by Goblin Slayer, whom Warrior stabbed through the head last year.

As adventurers, superheroes, mecha pilots, and through endless adventures worthy of their heroic hearts, the dauntless three have taken the lead in many actions of equal moment. This one, however, I have mapped out from start to near-finish in close to 300,000 words (link) over three years, with valued assistance from H2SO4Marauder and Cirion, to take Susan Shuang Lei, Harry 'Hotspur' Fawkes and Ilsa Tresckow from darkness and unmerited disgrace to hard-earned glory.

To give some idea of their heroics, and what acceptably decent literature looks like, I intend to post an abridgment of Horatius at the Bridge by Lord Macaulay. How can man do better?

The time is the 6th century BC. Following the rape of Lucretia by the Roman prince Sextus Tarquinus, the whole royal family was banished from Rome and a republic instituted. The Tarquins, however, urged Rome's enemies to attack and restore them; the north Italian city states of Clusium, Luna, Arretium, Umbro etc, of which less is heard in subsequent history, are now on their way to duff up the little city on the Tiber before they are all duffed up themselves...

Horatius at the Bridge pt1

LARS PORSENA of Clusium,

By the Nine Gods he swore

That the great house of Tarquin

Should suffer wrong no more.

By the Nine Gods he swore it,

And named a trysting-day,

And bade his messengers ride forth,

East and west and south and north,

To summon his array.

East and west and south and north

The messengers ride fast,

And tower and town and cottage

Have heard the trumpet’s blast.

Shame on the false Etruscan

Who lingers in his home,

When Porsena of Clusium

Is on the march for Rome!

The horsemen and the footmen

Are pouring in amain

From many a stately market-place,

From many a fruitful plain,

From many a lonely hamlet,

Which, hid by beech and pine,

Like an eagle’s nest hangs on the crest

Of purple Apennine:

The harvests of Arretium,

This year, old men shall reap;

This year, young boys in Umbro

Shall plunge the struggling sheep;

And in the vats of Luna,

This year, the must shall foam

Round the white feet of laughing girls

Whose sires have marched to Rome.